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Dr. Mendelowitz research career is focused on the autonomic and respiratory control of brainstem cardiovascular function in both normal physiological homeostasis as well as alterations that occur to initiate and/or sustain cardiorespiratory diseases. In particular his lab studies the cellular properties and neuronal network and reflex control of pre-motor parasympathetic cardio-inhibitory vagal neurons located in the nucleus ambiguus in the brainstem. The activity of these cardiac vagal neurons dominates the neural control of heart rate, yet despite their clinical importance we have only begun to fully understand the transmitters and integration of complex synaptic pathways from other brain sites that control these critical specialized neurons and the parasympathetic control of heart rate in both healthy and disease states including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). |