|
|
 |
|
|
|
School of Psychological Science
In 1971, I obtained my PhD (University of Washington, Seattle, USA). I had two postdoctoral fellowships (NIMH, Univ. Pittsburgh, USA; NHMRC, Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne). In 1980, I became a NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at the Howard Florey Institute (Ingestive Behaviour team). My research was aimed at investigating the mechanisms controlling sodium appetite and thirst, crucial behavioural components of body fluid homeostasis. In 1999, my research emphasis shifted from body fluid homeostasis to the investigation of (a) the influence of early nutrition, primarily omega-3 fatty acids, on later physiological function and (b) mechanisms involved in the control of body weight. In Feb 2005, moved to School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University. I have honorary appointments at the Howard Florey Institute and the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas. Research Interests 1. Role of the renin-angiotensin system in control of body composition and insulin sensitivity. Our work has demonstrated that body fat is reduced by agents that inhibit this system, e.g., ACE inhibitors, drugs usually prescribed to treat hypertension. We also observed that relative to normal (wild-type or control) animals, animals genetically modified to have decreased activity of this system, have a lower amount of body fat. This latter work was recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. This work continues to be my primary research focus and numerous studies extending this work are planned. 2. Influence of extracts from sugarcane (sugarcane polyphenols) on body composition and insulin sensitivity. In looking for naturally occurring inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system (naturally-occurring ACE inhibitors), work began on sugarcane extracts. The work demonstrated that these polyphenols, when added to a high fat diet, could prevent obesity and improve insulin sensitivity. Experiments to determine the mechanisms of action of the sugarcane polyphenols and the influence of other naturally occurring ACE inhibitors on body composition are planned. 3. Influence of omega-3 fatty acids on physiological functions. Experiments will be aimed at determining the role and mechanisms of action of the omega-3 fatty acids on blood pressure, body composition, thirst in the elderly, insulin sensitivity, cognitive function and mood.
Recent Publications (2005–2009) Peer Reviewed
Journals Mathai, ML, Weisinger, RS and McKinley, MJ. Regulation of body temperature in response to heat. Chemistry in Australia, 2005, 72, 11-13. Jayasooriya AP, Ackland ML, Mathai ML, Sinclair AJ, Weisinger HS, Weisinger RS, Halver JE, Kitajka K, Puskas LG. Perinatal {omega}-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supply modifies brain zinc homeostasis during adulthood. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005, 102(20):7133-8. ”IF=10.27” Li, D, Weisinger, H.S., Weisinger, R.S., Mathai, M.L., Armitage, J.A., Vingrys, A.J. and Sinclair, A.J. omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid imbalance early in life leads to persistent reductions in dha levels in glycerophospholipids in rat hypothalamus even after long-term omega 3 fatty acid repletion. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 74 (6), 391-399, 2006. ”IF=1.807”. Weisinger, R.S., Begg, D.P., Chen, N., Jois, M., Mathai, M.L., and Sinclair, A.J. the problem of obesity: is there a role for antagonists of the renin-angiotensin system? Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 16 SUPPL 1, 359-367, 2007. ”IF=1.015” Attar-Bashi, N.M., Weisinger, R.S., Begg, D.P., Sinclair, A.J. failure of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation to enhance biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid from ?-linolenic acid in healthy human volunteers. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 76 (3), 121-130, 2007. ”IF=1.807” . Sinclair, A.J., Begg, D.P., Mathai, M.L., Weisinger, R.S. omega 3 fatty acids and the brain. A review of studies in depression. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 16 SUPPL 1, 391-397, 2007. ”IF=1.015” . Weisinger, H.S., Salem, N., Makino, K.K., Hibbeln, J.R., Sinclair, A.J., Weisinger, R.S., & DePetrillo, P.B. effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency on heart rate variability in hooded rats. Arch Med Sci, 3, 208-214, 2007. Begg, D.P., & Weisinger, R.S. the role of adrenal or testicular hormones in voluntary ethanol and nacl intake of crowded and individually housed rats. Physiology and Behaviour 2008, 93(1-2):408-413, 2008. Weisinger HS Begg DP Egan GF Jayasooriya AP Lie F Mathai ML Sinclair AJ Wark JD Weisinger RS. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition from birth reduces body weight and body fat in sprague-dawley rats. Physiol Behaviour 2008, 93(4-5), 820-825. Jayasooriya AP Begg DP Chen N Mathai ML Sinclair AJ Wilkinson-Berka J Wark JD Weisinger HS Weisinger RS. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces hypertension in tgr(mren-2)27 rats. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2008, 78: 67-72. Stahl, L.A., Begg, D.P., Weisinger, R.S., & Sinclair, A.J. the role of omega-3 fatty acids in mood disorders. Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 9: 57-64, 2008. Tassoni, D., Kaur, G., Weisinger, R.S., & Sinclair, A.J. the role of eicosanoids in the brain. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008, 17 Suppl 1, 220-228. Jayasooriya AP Mathai ML Walker LL Begg DP Denton DA Cameron-Smith D Egan GF Jois M McKinley MJ Rodger PD Sinclair AJ Wark JD Weisinger HS Weisinger RS. Mice lacking angiotensin converting enzyme have increased energy expenditure , with reduced fat mass and improved glucose clearance. P Natl Acad Sci USA 2008, 105, 6531-6536. Mathai ML Naik S Sinclair AJ Weisinger HS Weisinger RS. Selective reduction in body fat mass and plasma leptin induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in rats. Int J Obesity 2008, 32, 1576-1584. Weisinger RS Begg DP Denton DA Findlay ALR Kennedy GA Purcell B Walker LL Blair-West JR. Endocrine and ingestive behavioral responses to fluid deprivation in sheep chronically exposed to ethanol. Physiol Behav 2009, 96, 637-645. Mathai ML Weisinger RS. Response to ‘hydration increases cell metabolism’. Int J Obesity 2009 E PUB. Weisinger, R.S., Stanley TK, Begg, D.P., Weisinger HS, Spark KJ, Jois, M. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition lowers body weight and improves glucose tolerance in c57bl/6j mice maintained on a high fat diet. Physiol Behav 2009 (E PUB) Some
Current Postgraduate Research Projects Lauren Stahl, Influence of omega-3 fatty acids on cognition, La Trobe University (Psychology). Dilhani Premaratna, Influence of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on body composition and insulin resistance, La Trobe University (Psychology). Paula Rodger, Influence of polyphenols on body composition, La Trobe University (Psychology) Hafandi Ahmed, Influence of omega-3 fatty acids on learning and memory, La Trobe University (Psychology) Grants Past Support Brain areas involved in ingestive behaviour, R.S. Weisinger and P. Burns, $7,800, 1999, Windermere Foundation. Influence of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency/supplementation early in life on blood pressure, cardiovascular function and insulin resistance in rats with type II diabetes, R.S. Weisinger, $15,000, 2000, The Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation Ltd. Prevention of high blood pressure in adults, R.S. Weisinger, $31,046, 2000, The Philip Bushell Foundation. Hypertension caused by perinatal omega-3 fatty acid deficiency, G 00M 0614, R.S. Weisinger, A. Sinclair and C.N. May, $80,960, 2000-2001, National Heart Foundation of Australia. Perinatal omega-3 fatty acid supply affects blood pressure later in life: what determines the critical period? R.S. Weisinger, H.S. Weisinger, A.J. Sinclair, $50,000, 2003, Australian Health Management Group. Senior Research Fellowship, 217011, R.S. Weisinger,
$500,000, 2000-2006, NHMRC.
Nutrition during early life regulates adult blood pressure, 350313, R.S. Weisinger, H.S. Weisinger, A.J. Sinclair, $277,463, 2005-2007, NHMRC. Programming of appetite and body weight by the interaction of maternal diet and angiotensin II during the perinatal period, DP0346830, R.S. Weisinger, A.J. Sinclair, H.S. Weisinger, $240,000, 2003-2005, Australian Research Council. Collaborations Michael Mathai Howard Florey Institute -- Melbourne,
Australia Mark Jois La Trobe University -- Melbourne,
Australia International Klara Kitjaka Institute of Biochemistry, Hungarian
Academy of Sciences -- Szeged, Hungary Anura Jayasooriya University of Peradeniya
– Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Content Approved by: Head of School Page maintained by: Illustrative Services Last Updated: 25 June, 2009 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
