Dr. Gary H. Laverty

Associate Professor

Contact

Laverty

Office: 244 Wolf Hall
Lab: 247 Wolf Hall

Mailing address:
Department of Biological Sciences
Wolf Hall
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716

Phone: (302) 831-8180
Fax: (302) 831-2281
E-mail: laverty@udel.edu

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Education

B.S.: Lowell Technological Institute
Ph.D.: University of Connecticut
Postdoctoral: University of Arizona Health Sciences Center

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Research Interests

Current research is directed toward studies of epithelial ion and organic substrate transport. Primary cell cultures and established cell lines of renal and intestinal epithelia are used to investigate hormonal and dietary control of transport processes. Cells are grown as monolayers on permeable membrane filters, achieving a high degree of epithelial polarity and differentiation. These monolayers can then be mounted in modified flux chambers (Ussing chambers) for study by electrophysiological methods, isotopic flux measurements or other analytical methods. Much of this work is comparative in nature, focusing on unique or unusual transport processes in birds or other non-mammalian groups. Two major projects are currently under investigation in primary cultures of the renal proximal tubule. One involves a chloride secretion pathway, mediated by a cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR)-like chloride channel that is stimulated by parathyroid hormone. The second project involves a study of a sodium-linked vitamin C (ascorbic acid) transporter in these cells. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, may be particularly important in birds because of levels of oxidative stress. Immunoblotting and PCR methods are also used to look at protein and mRNA expression levels of these epithelial transporters, thus complementing the electrophysiological functional assays.

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Teaching

• BISC 305* - Cell Physiology
• BISC 306* - General Physiology
• BISC 315* - Experimental Cell Biology

*Course web site available through MyCourses

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Selected Publications

Grigorieva, A., G.S. Griffiths, H. Zhang, G. Laverty, M. Shao, L. Taylor and P.A. Martin-DeLeon (2007). Expression of SPAM1 (PH-20) in the murine kidney is not accompanied by hyaluronidase activity: evidence for potential roles in fluid and water reabsorption. Kidney Blood Press Res. 30: 145-155.

Johnston, L. and G. Laverty (2007). Vitamin C transport and SVCT1 transporter expression in chick renal proximal tubule cells in culture. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 146: 327-334.

Laverty, G., V.S. Elbrønd, S.S. Árnason and E. Skadhauge (2006). Epithelial structure and function in the hen lower intestine. In: "Avian Gut Function in Health and Disease", G.C. Perry, ed., CAB Int., Wallingford, UK, pp 65-84.

Laverty, G., V.S. Elbrønd, S.S. Árnason and E. Skadhauge (2006). Endocrine regulation of ion transport in the avian lower intestine. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 147: 70-77.

Laverty, G., C. McWilliams, A. Sheldon and S.S. Árnason (2003). PTH stimulates a Cl-dependent and EIPA-sensitive current in chick proximal tubule cells in culture. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 284: F987-F995.

Dudas, P.L., A.R. Villalobos, G. Gocek-Sutterlin, G. Laverty and J.L. Renfro (2002). Regulation of transepithelial phosphate transport by PTH in chicken proximal tubule epithelium. Am J. Physiology 282: R139-R146.

Laverty, G., S. Bjarnadóttir, V.S. Elbrønd and S.S. Árnason (2001). Aldosterone suppresses expression of an avian colonic sodium-glucose cotransporter. Am. J. Physiology 281: R1041-R1050.

Laverty, G. and E. Skadhauge (1999). Physiological roles and regulation of transport in the avian lower intestine. J. Exp. Zool. 283: 480-494.

Sutterlin, G.G. and G. Laverty (1998). Characterization of a primary cell culture model of the avian renal proximal tubule. Am. J. Physiol. 275: R220-R226.

Sehested, J., L. Dieræns, G. Laverty, P.D. Møller and E. Skadhauge (1996). Methodological and functional aspects of the isolated bovine rumen epithelium in Ussing chamber flux studies. Acta Agric. Scand. A 46: 76-86.

Laverty, G. (1996). Transport characteristics of the colonic epithelium of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 118A: 261-263.

Laverty, G., K. Holtug, V.S. Elbrønd, Y. Ridderstråle and E. Skadhauge (1994). Mucosal acidification and an acid microclimate in the hen colon in vitro. J. Comp. Physiol. 163B: 633-641.

Laverty, G. and M. Alberici (1991). Carbonic anhydrase activity in kidney and lower intestine of the European starling. J. Morphol. 207: 273-281.

Laverty, G. and M. Alberici (1987). Micropuncture study of proximal tubule pH in avian kidney. Am. J. Physiol. 253: R587-R591.

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