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Sean Stocker
Title Associate Professor
Institution College of Medicine
Department Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Address 500 University Drive Hershey PA 17033
Mailbox: H166
Telephone 7175318566
Email
Background
BS - Allegheny College, Meadville, PA
PhD - Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
Postdoctoral - Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Director, American Heart Association Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

RESEARCH.
Our laboratory investigates how the central nervous system contributes to cardiovascular disease including obesity-induced and salt-sensitive hypertension. We utilize a variety of approaches that include in vivo cardiovascular monitoring, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, functional neuroanatomy, and translational studies in humans (microneurography, blood flow). Our projects are currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.

PROJECT 1 (NIH R01 - Obesity-Induced Hypertension). Clinical studies suggest approximately 2/3 of hypertension cases is attributed to obesity and activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This project uses a number of approaches to identify the neural circuits and cellular mechanisms that support obesity-induced hypertension. Current studies focus on the ability of hormonal factors such as insulin and leptin to enter the brain, activate neuronal circuits, and increase sympathetic outflow and blood pressure.

PROJECT 2 (American Heart Association Established Investigator and NIH R01 - Salt-Sensitive Hypertension). Salt-sensitive hypertension is associated with changes in plasma sodium concentration and activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Our laboratory investigates how the central nervous system senses changes in dietary sodium to subsequently alter sympathetic outflow and arterial blood pressure. These projects use state-of-art approaches in both animal models and humans.

Collaborators:
Kirsteen Browning, PhD (Neural & Behavioral Sciences)
Marc Kaufman, PhD (Heart & Vascular Institute)
Kevin Monahan, PhD (Cardiology)
Lawrence Sinoway, MD (Director, Heart & Vascular Institute)
Alberto Travagli, PhD (Neural & Behavioral Sciences)
Publications
1. Stocker SD, Monahan KD, Sinoway LI. The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus may not be at the heart of sympathetic outflow. J Physiol. 2013 Jan 1; 591(Pt 1):1.
  View in: PubMed
 
2. Yamauchi K, Stone AJ, Stocker SD, Kaufman MP. Blockade of ATP-sensitive potassium channels prevents the attenuation of the exercise pressor reflex by tempol in rats with ligated femoral arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2012 Aug 1; 303(3):H332-40.
  View in: PubMed
 
3. Ward KR, Bardgett JF, Wolfgang L, Stocker SD. Sympathetic response to insulin is mediated by melanocortin 3/4 receptors in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Hypertension. 2011 Mar; 57(3):435-41.
  View in: PubMed
 
4. Toney GM, Stocker SD. Hyperosmotic activation of CNS sympathetic drive: implications for cardiovascular disease. J Physiol. 2010 Sep 15; 588(Pt 18):3375-84.
  View in: PubMed
 
5. Stocker SD, Madden CJ, Sved AF. Excess dietary salt intake alters the excitability of central sympathetic networks. Physiol Behav. 2010 Jul 14; 100(5):519-24.
  View in: PubMed
 
6. Bardgett ME, McCarthy JJ, Stocker SD. Glutamatergic receptor activation in the rostral ventrolateral medulla mediates the sympathoexcitatory response to hyperinsulinemia. Hypertension. 2010 Feb; 55(2):284-90.
  View in: PubMed
 
7. Adams JM, Bardgett ME, Stocker SD. Ventral lamina terminalis mediates enhanced cardiovascular responses of rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons during increased dietary salt. Hypertension. 2009 Aug; 54(2):308-14.
  View in: PubMed
 
8. Adams JM, McCarthy JJ, Stocker SD. Excess dietary salt alters angiotensinergic regulation of neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Hypertension. 2008 Nov; 52(5):932-7.
  View in: PubMed
 
9. Taylor AC, McCarthy JJ, Stocker SD. Mice lacking the transient receptor vanilloid potential 1 channel display normal thirst responses and central Fos activation to hypernatremia. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008 Apr; 294(4):R1285-93.
  View in: PubMed
 
10. Stocker SD, Osborn JL, Carmichael SP. Forebrain osmotic regulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2008 May; 35(5-6):695-700.
  View in: PubMed
 
11. Shi P, Stocker SD, Toney GM. Organum vasculosum laminae terminalis contributes to increased sympathetic nerve activity induced by central hyperosmolality. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Dec; 293(6):R2279-89.
  View in: PubMed
 
12. Adams JM, Madden CJ, Sved AF, Stocker SD. Increased dietary salt enhances sympathoexcitatory and sympathoinhibitory responses from the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Hypertension. 2007 Aug; 50(2):354-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
13. Stocker SD, Meador R, Adams JM. Neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla contribute to obesity-induced hypertension in rats. Hypertension. 2007 Mar; 49(3):640-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
14. Stocker SD, Toney GM. Vagal afferent input alters the discharge of osmotic and ANG II-responsive median preoptic neurons projecting to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Brain Res. 2007 Feb 2; 1131(1):118-28.
  View in: PubMed
 
15. Stocker SD, Wilson ME, Madden CJ, Lone U, Sved AF. Intravenous 6-hydroxydopamine attenuates vasopressin and oxytocin secretion stimulated by hemorrhage and hypotension but not hyperosmolality in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Jul; 291(1):R59-67.
  View in: PubMed
 
16. Madden CJ, Stocker SD, Sved AF. Attenuation of homeostatic responses to hypotension and glucoprivation after destruction of catecholaminergic rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Sep; 291(3):R751-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
17. Stocker SD, Simmons JR, Stornetta RL, Toney GM, Guyenet PG. Water deprivation activates a glutamatergic projection from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus to the rostral ventrolateral medulla. J Comp Neurol. 2006 Feb 1; 494(4):673-85.
  View in: PubMed
 
18. Stocker SD, Toney GM. Median preoptic neurones projecting to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus respond to osmotic, circulating Ang II and baroreceptor input in the rat. J Physiol. 2005 Oct 15; 568(Pt 2):599-615.
  View in: PubMed
 
19. Stocker SD, Hunwick KJ, Toney GM. Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus differentially supports lumbar and renal sympathetic outflow in water-deprived rats. J Physiol. 2005 Feb 15; 563(Pt 1):249-63.
  View in: PubMed
 
20. Stocker SD, Cunningham JT, Toney GM. Water deprivation increases Fos immunoreactivity in PVN autonomic neurons with projections to the spinal cord and rostral ventrolateral medulla. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004 Nov; 287(5):R1172-83.
  View in: PubMed
 
21. Stocker SD, Schiltz JC, Sved AF. Acute increases in arterial blood pressure do not reduce plasma vasopressin levels stimulated by angiotensin II or hyperosmolality in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004 Jul; 287(1):R127-37.
  View in: PubMed
 
22. Stocker SD, Keith KJ, Toney GM. Acute inhibition of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus decreases renal sympathetic nerve activity and arterial blood pressure in water-deprived rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004 Apr; 286(4):R719-25.
  View in: PubMed
 
23. Stocker SD, Muldoon MF, Sved AF. Blunted fenfluramine-evoked prolactin secretion in hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 2003 Oct; 42(4):719-24.
  View in: PubMed
 
24. Stocker SD, Smith CA, Kimbrough CM, Stricker EM, Sved AF. Elevated dietary salt suppresses renin secretion but not thirst evoked by arterial hypotension in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2003 Jun; 284(6):R1521-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
25. Toney GM, Chen QH, Cato MJ, Stocker SD. Central osmotic regulation of sympathetic nerve activity. Acta Physiol Scand. 2003 Jan; 177(1):43-55.
  View in: PubMed
 
26. Stocker SD, Stricker EM, Sved AF. Arterial baroreceptors mediate the inhibitory effect of acute increases in arterial blood pressure on thirst. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2002 Jun; 282(6):R1718-29.
  View in: PubMed
 
27. Sved AF, Ito S, Madden CJ, Stocker SD, Yajima Y. Excitatory inputs to the RVLM in the context of the baroreceptor reflex. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001 Jun; 940:247-58.
  View in: PubMed
 
28. Stocker SD, Stricker EM, Sved AF. Acute hypertension inhibits thirst stimulated by ANG II, hyperosmolality, or hypovolemia in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2001 Jan; 280(1):R214-24.
  View in: PubMed
 
29. Stocker SD, Sved AF, Stricker EM. Role of renin-angiotensin system in hypotension-evoked thirst: studies with hydralazine. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2000 Aug; 279(2):R576-85.
  View in: PubMed
 
30. Yates BJ, Smail JA, Stocker SD, Card JP. Transneuronal tracing of neural pathways controlling activity of diaphragm motoneurons in the ferret. Neuroscience. 1999; 90(4):1501-13.
  View in: PubMed
 
31. Yates BJ, Stocker SD. Integration of somatic and visceral inputs by the brainstem: functional considerations. Exp Brain Res. 1998 Apr; 119(3):269-75.
  View in: PubMed
 
32. Stocker SD, Steinbacher BC, Balaban CD, Yates BJ. Connections of the caudal ventrolateral medullary reticular formation in the cat brainstem. Exp Brain Res. 1997 Sep; 116(2):270-82.
  View in: PubMed
 
33. Rossiter CD, Hayden NL, Stocker SD, Yates BJ. Changes in outflow to respiratory pump muscles produced by natural vestibular stimulation. J Neurophysiol. 1996 Nov; 76(5):3274-84.
  View in: PubMed
 
 
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Co-Authors  
Kaufman, Marc
Monahan, Kevin
Sinoway, Lawrence
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