Effiong E. Otukonyong

Department of Biomedical Health Sciences

Effiong E. Otukonyong

Effiong E. Otukonyong

Assistant Professor 
Department of Health Sciences 
Contact:
423-439-4575 /  
Room 302 Lamb Hall

EDUCATION

Ph. D.  Neurophysiology; Kochi Medical Graduate School, Department of Physiology, Japan 
Postdoctoral Fellowship  Neuroendocrinology of Obesity; McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, USA 
M.SC.  Medical Physiology; University of Ibadan Medical School, Department of Physiology, Nigeria 
B.Med. Sc.  Human Physiology; University of Port-Harcourt Medical School, Department of Physiology, Nigeria

COURSES TAUGHT

Human Physiology 
Human Anatomy 
Anatomy and Physiology I and II 
Neurology

RESEARCH FOCUS

My research program is focused on:

  1. The molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways in the etiology of obesity syndrome
  2. Identification of brain sites and neuroendocrine pathways for leptin action in modulating energy and body weight homeostasis
  3. The Hypothalamus and the control of appetite and reproduction

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Otukonyong EE, Dube MG, Kalra PS, Kalra SP. Central Leptin Differentially Modulates Ultradian Secretory Patterns of Insulin, Leptin and Ghrelin Independent of Effects on Food Intake and Body Weight. Peptides 2005 26: 2559?2566

Otukonyong EE, Dube MG, Torto RN, Kalra PS, Kalra SP. High Fat Diet?Induced Ultradian Leptin and Insulin Hypersecretion and Ghrelin Hyposecretion is absent in Obesity?Resistant Rats. Obesity Research 2005; 13:6, 1?9.

Kalra SP, Bagnasco M, Otukonyong EE, Dube M, Kalra PS: Rhythmic, Reciprocal Ghrelin and leptin signalling: New Insight in the development of Obesity (Review article). Regulatory Peptides 2003; 111: 1?11.

Okatani Y, Wakatsuki A, Otukonyong EE, Miyahara Y. Effect of prenatal melatonin exposure on gonadotropins and prolactin secretion in male and female rat pups. Eur J Pharmacol 2001; 424: 229?235.

Otukonyong EE, Okere CO, Johnstone LE, Murata T, Kaba H, Higuchi T. Effect of suckling on NADPH?diaphorase (Nitric oxide synthase, NOS) reactivity and NOS gene expression in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of lactating rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2000; 10: 1001?8

Otukonyong EE, Okutani F, Takahashi S, Murata T, Morioka N, Kaba H, Higuchi T. Effect of food Deprivation and leptin repletion on the plasma levels of estrogen (E2) and NADPH?d reactivity in the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus in the female rats. Brain Research 2000; 887: 70?9

PERSONAL INTERESTS

  • Traveling
  • Reading
  • Tennis
  • Walking just to keep fit