Profile
Research in the Segal laboratory centers on understanding blood flow regulation as exemplified by skeletal muscle in response to exercise. Studies have centered on elucidating the nature of signaling between skeletal muscle fibers and microvessels as well as between microvascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells in light of how these interactions are modulated by autonomic, sensory and somatic innervation. Ascending vasodilation describes the ability of signals initiated within the smallest microvessels (capillaries and terminal arterioles) to spread upstream into arteriolar networks and feed arteries that control the distribution and magnitude of tissue blood flow. Defining the morphology and physiology of microvascular networks is now being applied towards understanding how myofibers, microvessels, and peripheral nerves interact during regeneration and reinnervation following acute injury. Current studies focus on how “crosstalk” between these critical components of intact skeletal muscle affect each other’s ability to recover structure and function. Complementary studies center on understanding how vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells of the vascular wall are differentially protected from acute oxidative stress in light of their ability to adapt to chronic oxidative stress, as occurs during advanced age or consuming a western-style diet. Gaining new insight into cellular mechanisms of regeneration and survival will translate into improving the ability to restore and protect tissue blood flow, organ function, and the quality of life in patients following traumatic injury.
Academic Information
Office
1 Hospital Drive
MA415 Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
United States
Research Interests
- Skeletal muscle injury and regeneration
- Microvascular injury and resilience to oxidative stress
- Mechanisms of blood flow regulation
- Microcirculation during aging
Areas of Expertise
- Microcirculation
- Skeletal muscle physiology
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Exercise physiology
Education & Training
Fellowship
1987, Microcirculation, University of Virginia
Post-Graduate School
1984, PhD (Education/Kinesiology and Physiology), University of Michigan; 1978, MA (Exercise Physiology), University of California Berkeley
Awards & Honors
- Postdoctoral Mentor Award, University of Missouri Graduate School (04/2019)
- Benjamin W. Zweifach, Award, World Congress for Microcirculation (09/2018)
- Curators' Distinguished Professor (2017)
- Eugene M. Landis Award, the Microcirculatory Society, Inc. (2016)
- Excellence in Trainee Research Mentoring Award, MU School of Medicine (2015)
- Chancellor’s Professor of Research Excellence, University of Missouri (2013)
- Malpighi Award, European Society for Microcirculation (2013)
- Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award, NHLBI, NIH (2008)
- Margaret Proctor Mulligan Professorship in Medical Research, MU (2008)
- President, the Microcirculatory Society, Inc. USA (2008-09)
- Fellow, Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences, AHA (2001)
- Established Investigator Award, American Heart Association (1998)
- Fellow, Cardiovascular Section, American Physiological Society (1996)
- Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine (1989)
Professional Societies
- North American Vascular Biology (NAVBO; 1994 - present)
- European Society for Microcirculation (ESM; 1990 - present)
- The Microcirculatory Society, Inc. USA (MCS; 1985 - present)
- American Physiological Society (APS; 1985 - present)
Publications
- Norton CE, Shaw RL, Mittler R, and Segal SS.
Endothelial cells promote smooth muscle cell resilience to H2O2-induced cell death in mouse cerebral arteries.
Acta Physiologica. 2022;00:e13819.DOI: 10.1111/apha.13819 PMID: 35380737 - Jacobsen NL, Norton CE, Shaw RL, Cornelison DDW, and Segal SS.
Myofibre injury induces capillary disruption and regeneration of disorganized microvascular networks.
J Physiol 600.1: 41-60, 2022. DOI: 10.1113/JP282292 PMID: 34761825 - Norton CE, Boerman EM, and Segal SS.
Differential hyperpolarization to substance P and calcitonin gene related peptide in smooth muscle versus endothelium of mouse mesenteric artery.
Microcirculation 2021;00:e12733 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12733 PMID: 34633728 - Morton AB, Jacobsen NL and Segal SS.
Functionalizing biomaterials to promote neurovascular regeneration following skeletal muscle injury.
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 320: C1099-C1111, 2021. PMID: 33852364 - Shaw RL, Norton CE and Segal SS.
Apoptosis in resistance arteries induced by hydrogen peroxide: greater resilience of endothelium vs. smooth muscle.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 320: H1625-H1633, 2021. PMC8260393 - Boerman EM and Segal SS.
Aging alters spontaneous and neurotransmitter-mediated Ca2+ signaling in smooth muscle cells of mouse mesenteric arteries.
Microcirculation. 2020;27:e12607. PMID: 31994289 - Norton CE, Jacobsen NL, Sinkler SY, Manrique CM and Segal SS.
Female sex and Western-style diet protect mouse resistance arteries during acute oxidative stress.
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 318: C627-C639, 2020. PMID: 31891519 - Morton AB, Norton CE, Jacobsen NL, Fernando CA, Cornelison DDW and Segal SS.
Barium chloride injures myofibers through calcium-induced proteolysis with fragmentation of motor nerves and microvessels.
Skeletal Muscle 2019 Nov 6;9(1):27. PMID: 31694693 - Norton CE, Sinkler SY, Jacobsen NL and Segal SS.
Advanced age protects resistance arteries of mouse skeletal muscle from oxidative stress through attenuating apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide.
J Physiol 597.15: 3801-3816, 2019. PMID: 31124136 - Fernando CA, Pangan AM, Cornelison DDW and Segal SS.
Recovery of blood flow regulation in microvascular resistance networks during regeneration of mouse gluteus maximus muscle.
J Physiol 597.5: 1401-1407, 2019. PMID: 30575953 - Socha MJ and Segal SS.
Microvascular mechanisms limiting skeletal muscle blood flow with advancing age.
J Appl Physiol 125: 1851-1839, 2018. PMC6737458 - Sinkler SY and Segal SS.
Rapid versus slow ascending vasodilatation: Intercellular conduction versus flow-mediated signalling with tetanic versus rhythmic muscle contractions.
J Physiol 595.23: 7149-7165, 2017. PMC5709335 - Behringer EJ and Segal SS.
Impact of aging on calcium signaling and membrane potential in endothelium of resistance arteries: A role for mitochondria.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 72: 1627-1637, 2017 PMC5861896 - Sinkler SY, Fernando CA and Segal SS.
Differential α-adrenergic modulation of rapid onset vasodilatation along resistance networks of skeletal muscle in old versus young mice.
J Physiol 594: 6987-7004, 2016. PMC5134404 - Boerman EM, Everhart JE and Segal SS.
Advanced age decreases local calcium signaling in endothelium of mouse mesenteric arteries in vivo.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 310: H1091-H1096, 2016. PMC4867392 - Boerman EM and Segal SS.
Depressed perivascular sensory innervation of mouse mesenteric arteries with advanced age.
J Physiol 594.8:2323-2338, 2016. PMC4933107 - Segal, SS.
Integration and Modulation of Intercellular Signalling Underlying Blood Flow Control.
J Vasc Res 52:136-157, 2015. PMC4670584 - Socha MJ, Boerman EM, Behringer EJ, Shaw RL, Domeier TL and Segal SS.
Advanced age protects microvascular endothelium from aberrant Ca2+ influx and cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide.
J Physiol 593.9: 2155–2169, 2015. PMC4422569 - Behringer EJ and Segal SS.
Membrane potential governs calcium influx into microvascular endothelium: Integral role for muscarinic receptor activation.
J Physiol 293.20: 4531-4548, 2015. PMC26260126