John R. Dietz, Ph.D.
Biographical Sketch | Interests | Current Research | Major Publications
Ph.D., Physiology & Biophysics,
University of Nebraska, 1979
Biographical Sketch
| 1969 - 1973 | B.S. University of Nebraska |
| 1976 - 1979 | Ph.D. Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Nebraska, College Med. |
| 1979 - 1982 | Postdoctoral Training: Dept. Physiol., Univ. of Missouri, School Med. |
| 1982 - 1987 | Assistant Professor: Dept. Physiol. & Biophys. Univ. of Shouth FL., Col. Med |
| 1987 - 1993 | Associate Professor: Dept. Physiol. & Biophys. Univ. of Shouth FL., Col. Med |
| 1993 - 2006 | Professor: Dept. Physiol. & Biophys., Univ. of South FL., Col Med. |
| 2006 - | Professor: Dept. Molec. Pharm. & Physiol., Univ. of South FL., Col. Med. |
Interests
Cardiac Peptides
Salt and water Balance
Renal Physiology
Cardiac Hormones (ANP, BNP)
Renin, angiotensin, aldosterone
Hypertension
Heart Failure
Current Research
The Cardiac Peptide Laboratory is studying a group of Cardiac Hormones, called natriuretic peptides because they are hormones secreted by the heart that increase the excretion of Sodium (Na) by the kidneys (uretic).
Increasing a person's salt Intake causes blood volume expansion and stretch of the atria which leads to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion. ANP increases salt and water excretion to reduce blood volume and blood pressure. ANP also directly dilates blood vessels, which helps to lower blood pressure.
Work in this area over the past 20 years has already resulted in new drugs to treat hypertension and heart failure. ANP is normally degraded in the kidneys by an enzyme (NEP) which breaks its peptide ring structure, making it inactive. Drugs that inhibit NEP cause ANP in the plasma to increase, thus augmenting ANP's blood pressure lowering capacity.
Heart attacks cause a massive release of cardiac hormones. Anteneh Addisu, a graduate in the Department, is studying how heart attacks can effect the gastrointestinal system to determine if the effects of heart attacks on the G.I. tract are mediated by overproduction of cardiac hormones.
Major Publications
Dietz, J.R. Release of natriuretic factor from a rat heart-lung preparation by atrial distention. Am J Physiol 247:R1093-R1096, 1984.
Dietz, J.R. Control of atrial natriuretic factor release from a rate heart-lung preparation. Am J Physiol 252: R498-R502, 1987.
Dietz, JR, Nazian, SJ, Vesely, DL. Release of ANF, proANF 1-98, and proANF 31-67 from isolated rate atria by atrial distension. Am J Physiol 260: H1774-H1778, 1991.
Dietz, JR, Vesely, DL, Gower, WR, Landon, CS, Lee, S, Nazian, SJ. neutralization of proANP 1-30 exacerbates hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 30 (9): 627-31, 2003. PubMed
Lee, SJ, Landon, CS, Nazian, SJ, Dietz, JR. Role of CYP450-arachidonate metabolites in endothelin signaling of cardiac hormone secretion in heart. Am J Physiol 286(5): R888-R893, 2004. PubMed
Dietz, JR, Landon, CS, Nazian, SJ, Vesely, DL, Gower, WR.. Effects of cardiac hormones on arterial pressure and sodium excretion in NPRA knockout mice. Exp Biol Med 229: 813-818, 2004. PubMed
Dietz, JR. Mechanisms of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Secretion from the Atrium. Cardiovascular Research, 68(1): 8-17, 2005. PubMed