Fellowship for Camille Bond Blake: Insulin effects in the vagal complex

This proposal will test the effects of insulin on the dorsal vagal complex, which controls gastric function. Because this region is located in the brainstem, which is adjacent to an incomplete portion of the blood brain barrier, hormones found in the bloodstream, such as insulin, can readily access this part of the brain. Diabetic patients often experience gastric dysfunction; thus the actions of insulin in this brain region are important to our understanding of the physiology of this disease. The results of this study will provide a clearer understanding of how insulin regulates autonomic function, which could lead to new insights in designing treatments for diabetes.