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Martin J Ronis, PhD
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Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/College of Medicine |
Phone: (501) 364-2796
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Research Overview
Dr. Ronis’ research program is split into two primary areas of focus: one is related to developmental toxicology and the second is related to health consequences related to early nutrition. He has been funded by NIH to develop and characterize a series of in vivo animal models of drug and pollutant toxicity, with a particular emphasis on developmental exposures. More recently he has concentrated on development of rodent models for alcoholic liver disease and alcohol effects on bone turnover. These projects involve multidisciplinary basic science studies encompassing whole animal physiology, nutrition and endocrinology; pathology, neuroendocrinology, sex steroid biochemistry, cytochrome P450 biochemistry, and molecular biological techniques. The goal of these studies is to better understand molecular basis for the toxic actions of alcohol, drugs and pollutants which might uncover therapeutic targets and to determine the effects of nutritional status on pathological outcomes in exposed populations. A second project funded by the USDA-ARS Human Nutrition Program at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center examines the effects of early nutrition on development of long-term chronic diseases of adulthood such as cancer, obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Key Publications*
He L., Marecki J.C., Serrero G., Simmen F.A., Ronis M.J.J. and Badger T.M., Dose-dependent effects of alcohol on insulin signaling: Partial explanation for biphasic alcohol impact on human health. Mol. Endocrinol. 21: 2541-2550, 2007.
Chen J-R., Badger T.M., Nagaragian S. and Ronis M.J.J. Inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation and downstream activation of the ERK/STAT3/RANKL-signaling cascade to osteoblasts accounts for the protective effects of estradiol on ethanol-induced bone loss. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 324: 50-59, 2008.
Baumgardner JN, Shankar K, Hennings L., Badger T.M. and Ronis M.J.J., A new rat model for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis utilizing overfeeding of diets high in polyunsaturated fat by total enteral nutrition. Am. J. Physiol. 294: G27-G38, 2008.
Shankar, K., Harrell, A., Liu, X., Gilcrist, J., Ronis M.J.J. and Badger, T.M., Maternal obesity at conception programs obesity in the offspring. Am. J. Physiol. 294: R528-538, 2008.
Shankar K., Hidestrand M., Liu X., Chen J-R., Haley R., Perrien D.S., Skinner R.A., Lumpkin Jr. C.K., Badger T.M. and Ronis M.J.J. Chronic ethanol consumption inhibits post-weaning anabolic bone rebuilding in rats via increased oxidative stress and TNF-alpha, J. Bone Min. Res. 23: 338-349, 2008.
Singhal R, Shankar K, Badger T.M., and Ronis M.J.J. Estrogenic status modulates aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated gene expression and carcinogenicity: a mechanistic approach using microarrays. Carcinogenesis 29: 227-236, 2008.
*To find additional publications by this author, please visit Pubmed Central, a National Institutes of Health-operated site for electronic distribution of life sciences research reports.
Research Support
NIH/NIAAA: Ethanol effects on Bone Formation on Pregnancy - PI
NIH/NIAAA: Alcohol: Direct and Indirect Effects on Drug Metabolism - Co-PI
NIH/NIAAA: Ethanol and Osteoblastogenesis: Roles of IL-1 and TNF - Co-I
NIH/NIAAA: Role of Lipid Peroxidation Products in Development of Alcoholic Liver Disease – Co-I
USDA/ARS: Exposure to Dietary Factors Early in Human Development: Health Consequences of Phytochemical Intake - Co-I USDA/ACNC Center Associate Director