A partnership with Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center.
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"Female Mitochondria Protect Cerebral Arteries from Oxidative Stress Associated with Stroke"
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Speaker: Date: Monday, December 8, 2025, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location:
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*Zoom option available
Description
Dr. Norton’s research explores how acute oxidative stress associated with ischemia/reperfusion injuries such as ischemic stroke elicits cell death in cerebral arteries. Current stroke therapies aim to restore vascular perfusion; however, restoration of blood flow is often incomplete. We hypothesize that by improving vascular survival, vessels are better able to respond to vasoactive agents and provide adequate perfusion to the brain. Females are protected from stroke, and cerebral arteries isolated from female mice have increased resilience to intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptosis evoked by acute oxidative stress. Increases in mitochondrial Ca2+and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) are key signaling eventsinitiating apoptosis. Dr. Norton’s talk will explore how mitochondria from females limit mitochondrial calcium influx and depolarization of ΔΨm during acute exposure to oxidative stress.
About the Speaker
"Charles E. Norton III obtained his B.S. and PhD from the University of New Mexico where his research focused on mechanisms of calcium sensitization in vascular smooth muscle during chronic and intermittent hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas Resta. Wishing to learn more about how smooth muscle and endothelial cells interact, Dr. Norton completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Missouri with Steve Segal. His research focused on understanding the relative contribution of smooth muscle and endothelial cells to sensory nerve-mediated vasodilation. Furthermore, it was here he identified how smooth muscle and endothelial cells of the intact vessel wall protect each other during exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Supported by an American Heart Association Career Development Award investigating how pulmonary fibrosis augments vasodilation to the sensory neurotransmitter CGRP, Dr. Norton joined the MU faculty in January 2023 and has focused his research endeavors on understanding how hypoxia and ROS affect the vasculature. He has expanded his focus to the cerebral circulation understanding how acute ROS exposure associated with ischemic stroke evokes apoptosis in cerebral arteries. Initial findings from this research identified how Western-style high fat diet and advanced age protect cerebral arteries from acute oxidative stress. He is currently investigating how female sex protects cerebral arteries focusing on the mitochondria"
About the Seminar Series
The goal of the NextGen Cardiovascular, Muscle & Metabolism Science Seminar is to highlight transdisciplinary precision research taking place in cardiovascular, muscle and metabolism fields; provide opportunities for collaboration among researchers to build their own research efforts; and promote clinical/researcher activity across the University of Missouri System and our partners.
For questions about this event, please reach out to Mackenzie Lynch.
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