Pushpa S. Kalra, Ph.D. Professor Phone: (352) 392-4169 Fax: (352) 294-0191 Office: UFBI, room L4-177 E-mail: pkalra@phys.med.ufl.edu Publications: Search PubMed

The overall objective of my research program is to characterize and understand the functional interactions among the hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate the secretion of reproductive hormones and sex behavior. The effects of cytokines on these neuropeptides are being studied at the molecular and cellular levels in order to understand neural-immune-endocrine interactions. The second thrust of our research endeavors is to identify the hypothalamic causes of hyperphagia and obesity caused by certain types of neural injury and neurotoxins. These are whole-animal studies conducted in rats utilizing a variety of techniques including stereotaxic procedures, microdialysis and push-pull cannula perfusion to assess neuropeptide release in situ, radioimmunoassays and ribonuclease protection assays for quantifying neuropeptide levels and gene expression.