Ronald H. Freeman, PhD
Research Interests
Our research focuses on the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of hypertension in the obese population. The prevalence of obesity is now estimated to exceed one-third of the population of the United States, contributing, in turn, to the increased incidence of diabetes and hypertension. Leptin, a circulating peptide hormone, is primarily synthesized and secreted by adipocytes. Leptin has multiple actions that potentially are important not only in the control of body metabolism and body fat stores, but also in physiological and pathophysiological regulation of cardiovascular and renal functions. Potentially prominent are its effects on renal sodium excretion, sympathetic nervous system activation, vascular tone, and stimulation of the nitric oxide system. The normal balance among these actions of leptin may be disrupted during obesity, and this effect could likely contribute to hypertension in the obese population, Using a variety of dietary and mutant rat models of obesity, we are examining the actions of leptin on cardiovascular and renal functions.
Professional Background
- PhD in Physiology, Indiana University
- Joined the Department in 1972
- Served on Cardiovascular and Renal Study Section of the National Institutes of Health
- Served as Chair, Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section of the American Physiological
Society
- Served on the Editorial Boards of American Journal of Physiology, Circulation Research, and
Hypertension
- Director of Basic Sciences and Problem Based Learning for years 1 & 2 of the medical curriculum. Also the Co-director for block 2 of the 1st year curriculum. Block 2 has as its subject matter the physiology and structure of the human body.
Selected Publications
- Mukherjee, R, D Villarreal, GP Reams, RH Freeman, I Tchoukina, and RM Spears. Leptin as a
common link to obesity and hypertension. Drugs of Today 41: 687-695, 2005
- Villarreal, D, G Reams, and RH Freeman. Effects of renal denervationon the sodium excretory
action of leptin in hypertensive rats. Kidney Int. 272: F561-F568, 2000.
- Villarreal, D, G Reams, RH Freeman, and G Taraben. Am J Physiol 275: R2056-R2060, 1998.
- Villarreal, D, G Reams, R Freeman, R Spear, I Tchoukina, and H Samar. Leptin blockade attenuates sodium excretion in saline-loaded normotensive rats. Mol. Cellular Biochem. 283: 153-157, 2006.
- Villarreal, D, G Reams, H Samar, R Spear, and R Freeman. Effects of chronic nitric oxide inhibition on the renal response to leptin. Obesity Res. 12: 1006-1010, 2004.
Methodology/Techniques
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