Publications by authors named "Mark R Higgins"

Article Synopsis
  • Hepatic lipid buildup in obesity leads to increased hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, affecting liver function.
  • Hepatocyte depolarization reduces vagal nerve firing and heightens GABA release, contributing to hyperinsulinemia.
  • Altering hepatic GABA release can improve insulin sensitivity and mitigate glucoregulatory issues in obesity, with implications for type 2 diabetes risk.
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Rising temperatures resulting from climate change will increase the incidence of heat stress, negatively impacting the labor force and food animal production. Heat stress elevates circulating β-OH butyrate, which induces vasodilation through GPR109a. Interestingly, both heat stress and intraperitoneal β-OH butyrate administration induce hypophagia.

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Olfactory systems serve as excellent model systems for the study of numerous widespread aspects of neural development and also for the elucidation of features peculiar to the formation of neural circuits specialized to process odor inputs. Accumulated research reveals a fine balance between developmental autonomy of olfactory structures and intercellular interactions essential for their normal development. Recent findings have uncovered evidence for more autonomy than previously realized, but simultaneously have begun to reveal the complex cellular and molecular underpinnings of key interactions among neurons and glial cells at several important steps in olfactory development.

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