Ronald Terjung, PhD

Email: TerjungR@missouri.edu

573-882-2635
W117 Vet Med Bldg
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211

Research Interests:
Adenine nucleotide (total adenine nucleotides (TAN) = ATP + ADP + AMP) metabolism occupies a pivotal role in cell regulation, particularly for skeletal muscle where contractile activity increases ATP hydrolysis rate many fold. The control of [ATP] in contracting muscle depends upon: 1) the control of energy supply pathways; 2) TAN degradation reactions; 3) TAN synthesis reactions from precursors; and 4) contractile activity which determines the rate of ATP hydrolysis. He is evaluating differences in TAN metabolism among skeletal muscle fiber types, critical responses to exercise, and adaptations induced by chronic exercise.

Enhanced physical activity represents an important treatment for persons with peripheral arterial insufficiency and leads to meaningful adaptations that increase exercise tolerance. These adaptations include neovascular development to improve a) blood/tissue exchange properties within muscle (enhanced capillarity) and b) flow capacity to active muscle (collateral vessel expansion). The exercise-induced increase in collateral blood flow likely involves the angiogenic growth factors (e.g., bFGF, VEGF). These potent cytokines stimulate neovascularization in experimental ischemia in vivo. His working hypothesis is that neovascularization occurs in response to tissue "need" established by flow deficits (ischemia) and/or by increased demands for vascular support (exercise). His research is evaluating: 1) the interactions between ischemia, exercise and exogenously infused recombinant angiogenic growth factors; 2) the functional significance of the vascular adaptations; and 3) the tissue events related to neovascularization

Publications:
Brault, J.J., K.A. Abraham, and R.L. Terjung. Creatine muscle uptake and creatine transporter expression in response to creatine supplementation and depletion. J. Appl. Physiol.: 94:2173-2180, 2003.

Abraham, K.A., J.J. Brault, and R.L. Terjung. Phosphate uptake and PiT-1 protein expression in rat skeletal muscle. Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiol.): 287:C73 C78, 2004.

Abraham, K.A., R.L. Terjung. Phosphate uptake in rat skeletal muscle is reduced during contractions. J. Appl. Physiol. J. Appl. Physiol. 97:57-62, 2004.

Prior, B.M., H.T. Yang, and R.L. Terjung. What makes vessels grow with exercise training? J. Appl. Physiol. 97:1119-1128, 2004.

Hancock, C.R., E. Janssen, and R.L. Terjung. Skeletal muscle contractile performance and ADP accumulation in adenylate kinase deficient mice. Am. J. Physiol. (Cell): 288:C1287-C1297, 2005.

Hancock, C.R., J.J. Brault, R.W. Wiseman, R.L. Terjung, R.A. Meyer. 31P-NMR observation of free ADP during fatiguing, repetitive contractions of murine skeletal muscle lacking AK1. Am. J. Physiol. (Cell): 288:C1298-C1304, 2005.

Prior, B.M., P.G. Lloyd, H.T. Yang, and R.L. Terjung. Time-course of changes in collateral blood flow, and isolated vessel size and gene regulation following femoral artery occlusion in the rat. Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiol.): 287:H2434-H2447, 2004.

Prior, B.M., H.T. Yang, and R.L. Terjung. What makes vessels grow with exercise training? J. Appl. Physiol. 97:1119-1128, 2004.

Lloyd, P.G., B.M. Prior, H. Li, H.T. Yang and R.L. Terjung. VEGF receptor antagonism inhibits arteriogenesis, but only partially inhibits angiogenesis in skeletal muscle of exercising rats. Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiol.): 288:H759-H768, 2005.