Richard Klabunde, Ph.D.

Investigator Page

Background

During my early career (1970-1985), my research focused on metabolism-linked regulation of blood flow in skeletal muscle, particularly on the role of oxygen and adenosine. Over the next 22 years, I studied the mechanisms of action of various cardiovascular drugs in animal models of heart failure and septic shock, the efficacy of different types of thrombolytic agents, and the mechanisms by which nitric oxide regulates cardiac contractile function and microcirculatory function. Most of the cardiac work was performed using isolated, Langendorff-perfused rat and mouse hearts. The last few years of my research focused on how diabetes and obesity affect nitric oxide, endothelin and adrenergic control of the coronary circulation.

I ended my laboratory research a few years ago to concentrate on other scholarly activities, including writing textbooks, managing the content of my teaching websites, and serving as a consultant for cardiovascular research and teaching.

Journal Publications

1. TE Wilson, RE Klabunde and KD Monahan. Using Thermal Stress to Model Aspects of Disease States. J Thermal Biol 43: 24–32, 2014.
2. RE Klabunde, AD LePorte and TE Wilson. Effect of temperature on isoproterenol-induced increases in left ventricular developed pressure. J Thermal Biol, 38:369-373, 2013.
3. RE Klabunde. Teaching physiology to 21^st century medical students. The Physiologist 56:1-4, 2013.
4. SB Bender and RE Klabunde. Altered role of smooth muscle endothelin receptors in coronary endothelin-1 and alpha-1-adrenoceptor-medicated vasoconstriction in type 2 diabetes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 293:H2281-2288, 2007.
5. RE Klabunde, KM Ryan and CE Paxson. Effects of acute hyperglycemia on coronary vascular function in isolated, perfused rat hearts. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism 9:696-705, 2007.
6. SB Bender, EK Herrick, ND Lott and RE Klabunde. Diet-induced obesity and diabetes reduce coronary responses to nitric oxide due to reduced bioavailability in isolated mouse hearts.  Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism 9:688-696, 2007.
7. RE Klabunde. Interviewing in industry versus academia. The Physiologist 49: 260-261, 2006.
8. Berrizbeitia, LD, LB McGrath and RE Klabunde. Oxygen modulation of superoxide radical injury in the Krebs perfused, isolated rabbit heart. J Invest Surg 15:251-257, 2002.
9. Klabunde, RE and DE Anderson. Role of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in PAF-induced microvascular leakage. J Vasc Res, 39:238-245, 2002.
10. Klabunde, RE and DE Anderson. Obligatory role of nitric oxide in PAF-induced leakage in the hamster cheek pouch microcirculation. Eur J Pharmacol 404:387-394, 2000.
11. McHugh, NA, A Solowiej, RE Klabunde and GF Merrill. Acute coronary vascular and myocardial perfusion effects of conjugated equine estrogen in the anesthetized dog. Basic Res Cardiol 93:470-476, 1998.
12. Klabunde, RE and LJ Mulligan. The ferret as a model for myocardial infarct size reduction by a selectin inhibitor. Lab Animal Sci 48:529-532, 1998.
13. Klabunde, RE, J Tse and HR Weiss. Guanylyl cyclase inhibition reduces contractility and decreases cGMP and cAMP in isolated rat hearts.  Cardiovasc Res 37:676-683, 1998.
14. O’Brien, PJ, GQ Li, M Locke, RE Klabunde and CD Ianuzzo. Compensatory up-regulation of cardiac SR Ca⁺⁺-pump by heat shock counteracts SR Ca⁺⁺-channel activation by ischemia/reperfusion. Mol Cell Biochem 173:135-143, 1997.
15. HR Weiss, JD Sadoff, PM Scholz and RE Klabunde. Nitric oxide reduces myocardial contractility in isoproterenol-stimulated rat hearts by a mechanism independent of cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP. Pharmacology 55:202-210, 1997.
16. Laniyonu, A, A Coston and RE Klabunde. Endotoxin-induced microvascular leakage is prevented by a PAF antagonist and NO synthase inhibitor. Shock 7:49-54, 1997.
17. Klabunde, RE, WA Anderson, M Locke, SE Ianuzzo and CD Ianuzzo. Regional blood flows in the goat latissimus dorsi muscle before and after chronic stimulation. J Appl Physiol 81:2365-2372, 1996.
18. Anderson, WA, CD Ianuzzo and RE Klabunde. Cardiomyoplasty: Studies on goat latissimus dorsi blood flow and muscle damage following surgical dissection and chronic electrical stimulation. J Card Surg 11:237-246, 1996.
19. Ianuzzo, CD, SE Ianuzzo, M Locke, C Brdlik, WA Anderson, J Gu and RE Klabunde. Preservation of the latissimus dorsi muscle during cardiomyoplasty surgery.  J Card Surg 11:99-108, 1996.
20. Ianuzzo, CD, SE Ianuzzo, N Carson, M Feild, M Locke, J Gu, WA Anderson and RE Klabunde. Cardiomyoplasty: degeneration of the assisting skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 80:1205-1213, 1996
21. Pacholewicz, JK, M Adkins, WJ Boris, J Gu, C Xenachis, R Klabunde, T Jasionowski and LB McGrath. Evaluation of cryopreserved internal thoracic artery as a coronary bypass graft: evidence for preserved functional metabolic and structural integrity. Eur J Cardiothoracic Surg 10:20-25, 1996.
22. Klabunde, RE and C Calvello. Inhibition of endotoxin-induced microvascular leakage by a PAF antagonist and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. Shock 4:368-372, 1995.
23. Locke, M, RM Tanguay, RE Klabunde and CD Ianuzzo. Enhanced post-ischemic myocardial recovery following exercise induction of HSP 72. Am J Physiol 269:H320-H325, 1995.
24. Klabunde, RE and AF Coston. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition does not prevent cardiac depression in endotoxic shock. Shock 3:73-78, 1995.
25. Klabunde, RE, KJ Slayton and RC Ritger. N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA) restores arterial blood pressure in hemorrhaged rats. Circ Shock 40:47-52, 1993.
26. Klabunde, RE, ND Kimber, JE Kuk, MC Helgren and U Forstermann. N^G-methyl-L-arginine (NMA) decreases contractility, cGMP and cAMP in isoproterenol-stimulated rat hearts in vitro. Eur J Pharmacol 223:1-7, 1992.
27. Klabunde, RE and MC Helgren. Cardiovascular actions of N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine are abolished in canine model of high-dose endotoxin. Res Commun Chem Path Pharmacol 78:57-68, 1992.
28. Klabunde, RE and RC Ritger. N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA) restores arterial blood pressure but reduces cardiac output in a canine model of endotoxic shock. Biophys Biochem Res Commun 178:1135-1140, 1991.
29. Klabunde, RE, RC Ritger and MC Helgren. Cardiovascular actions of inhibitors of EDRF (nitric oxide) formation/release in anesthetized dogs.  Eur J Pharmacol 199:51-59, 1991.
30. Voytik, S, SF Badylak, S Burke, RE Klabunde, J Henkin and A Simmons. The protective effect of heparin in a dog model of rethrombosis following pharmacologic thrombolysis. Thromb Haemostasis 64:438-444, 1990.
31. Klabunde, RE, MC Helgren, T Opgenorth and E Novosad. Atrial natriuretic peptide does not inhibit the basal vascular tone present in the in situ blood-perfused dog gracilis muscle. Life Sci 47:2027-2033, 1990.
32. Klabunde, RE, SE Burke and J Henkin. Enhanced lytic efficacy of multiple bolus injections of tissue plasminogen activator in dogs. Thromb Res 58:511-517, 1990.
33. Laughlin, MH, RE Klabunde, MD Delp and RB Armstrong. Effects of dipyridamole on muscle blood flow in exercising miniature swine. Am J Physiol 257:H1507-H1515, 1989.
34. Klabunde, RE, DE McDowell, RM High and R Ball. The hemodynamics of simple and sequential ilio-femoral grafts in dogs three months after insertion. Curr Surg 46:451-456, 1989.
35. Badylak, SF, S Voytik, RE Klabunde, J Henkin and M Leski. Bolus dose response characteristics of single chain urokinase plasminogen activator and tissue plasminogen activator in a dog model of arterial thrombosis. Thromb Res 52:295-312, 1988.
36. Klabunde, RE, CC Hemenway, S Mohrman, J Henkin and SF Badylak. Optimizing the bolus/infusion ratio for intravenous administration of urokinase in anesthetized dogs. Thromb Res 50:857-864, 1988.
37. Badylak, SF, E Poehlman, C Williams, RE Klabunde, J Turek and W Schoenlein. A simple canine model of arterial thrombosis with endothelial injury suitable for investigation of thrombolytic agents. J Pharmacol Meth 19:293-304, 1988.
38. Klabunde, RE, MH Laughlin and RB Armstrong. Systemic adenosine deaminase administration does not reduce active hyperemia in running rats. J Appl Physiol 64:108-114, 1988.
39. Klabunde RE. Effects of adenosine on sympathetic vasoconstriction in dog gracilis muscle. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 240:106-110, 1987.
40. Klabunde, RE. Attenuation of reactive and active hyperemia by sympathetic stimulation in dog gracilis muscle.  Am J Physiol 251:H1183-H1187, 1986.
41. Klabunde, RE. Conditions for dipyridamole potentiation of skeletal muscle active hyperemia. Am J Physiol 250:H62-H67, 1986.
42. Rankin, RS and RE Klabunde. Indomethacin and meclofenamate potentiation of postcontraction hyperemia. Life Sci 36:161-168, 1985.
43. Klabunde, RE and DE McDowell. A hydrodynamic model of the human leg circulation. The Physiologist 27:431-434, 1984.
44. Kille, JM and RE Klabunde. Adenosine as a mediator of postcontraction hyperemia in dog gracilis muscle. Am J Physiol 246:H274-H282, 1984.
45. Klabunde, RE. Dipyridamole inhibition of adenosine metabolism in human blood. Eur J Pharmacol 93:21-26, 1983.
46. Klabunde, RE. Effects of dipyridamole on postischemic vasodilation and extracellular adenosine. Am J Physiol 244:H273-H280, 1983.
47. Klabunde, RE and DG Althouse. Adenosine metabolism in dog whole blood: Effects of dipyridamole. Life Sci 28:2631-2641, 1981.
48. Klabunde, RE and PC Johnson. Effects of reduced temperature on capillary flow and reactive hyperemia in red and white skeletal muscle. Microvasc Res 19:99-107, 1980.
49. Klabunde, RE and SE Mayer. Effects of ischemia on tissue metabolites in red (slow) and white (fast) skeletal muscle of the chicken. Circ Res 45:366-373, 1979.
50. Klabunde, RE, CL Winser, CS Ito and SE Mayer. Measurement of adenosine and inosine in heart samples by high pressure liquid chromatography. J Molec Cell Cardiol 11:707-715, 1979.
51. Klabunde, RE and PC Johnson. Capillary velocity and tissue PO₂ changes during reactive hyperemia in skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol 233:H379-H383, 1977.
52. Klabunde, RE and PC Johnson. Reactive hyperemia in capillaries of red and white skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol 232:H411-H417, 1977.

Books, Chapters, and Web

1. Klabunde, RE. Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts, www.cvphysiology.com, 1999-2014. Own and manage the website and all of its content.
2. Klabunde, RE. Cardiovascular Pharmacology Concepts, www.cvpharmacology.com, 2006-2014. Own and manage the website and all of its content.
3. Klabunde, RE. Normal and Abnormal Blood Pressure (Physiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment). Amazon Kindle book, 2013.
4. Klabunde, RE. Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins/Baltimore, 2005 (1^st edition) and 2012 (2^nd edition). A textbook for medical and allied health science students.
5. Adam, R & C Cebollero. Transport of the Critical Care Patient. Elsevier Mosby JEMS, 2011. Acknowledged as the Contributor for the section on blood viscosity.
6. Klabunde, RE. Chapter 10: Secondary Hypertension, In, Hypertension Sourcebook, 1^st edition, Omnigraphics/Detroit, 2004.
7. RE Klabunde & R Mercado. Drugs, Derivatives, and Heart Disease, In: Calculus with Applications, edited by ML Lial, CD Miller and RN Greenwell, Harper Collins/New York, 5^th edition, 1993.