Principal Investigator: Benjamin Renquist, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Science

Co-Investigator: James Galligan, Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy

UA Colleges: College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences; College of Pharmacy

Comprehensive Examination of Endocrine and Metabolic Changes Associated with Heat Stress 

With global warming, the incidence of heat exposure is increasing. Heat is currently the leading cause of weather-related death. Heat also exacerbates many of the most common diseases worldwide, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) worsens cardiovascular disease and glucose homeostasis. Using a mouse model of heat exposure that increases core body temperature, we have shown that heat exposure increases circulating co-peptin, a stable glycopeptide that is co-produced and released with arginine vasopressin. Together the literature and our findings propose that the heat-induced increase in AVP may be critical for the worsening of health outcomes in people with cardiovascular disease and diabetes caused by heat exposure. We have additionally shown that continuous delivery of an AVP1a receptor antagonist largely prevents the heat exposure induced suppression of food intake. In this proposal, we aim to use our established mouse model of heat exposure and pharmacological model of AVP1aR antagonism to identify downstream endocrine and metabolic changes that are integral to heat-induced worsening of human health. This data will form the basis of NIH proposals focused on the role of heat exposure in diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Renquist has a research program focused on heat stress’ implications for the dairy industry, but his laboratory’s primary research focus is on the role of fatty liver in diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Galligan focuses on hepatic glucose metabolism and has expertise in mass spectroscopy, which is key for the wet lab analyses proposed. This proposal will support a new collaboration between two investigators with the relevant expertise to successfully complete this project and a clear funding plan so that this investment yields future NIH funding.

SCORCH Pilot Project Awardee | Track 1: Innovative Extreme Weather & Health Research 

Award: $50,000