Prof. Dr. Mordecai P. Blaustein

Profile

Academic positionFull Professor
Research fieldsAnatomy and Physiology
KeywordsSodium transport, Calcium transport

Current contact address

CountryUnited States of America
CityBaltimore
InstitutionUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore
InstituteSchool of Medicine, Department of Physiology

Host during sponsorship

Prof. Dr. Ernst BambergMax-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, Frankfurt am Main
Prof. Dr. Karl Julius UllrichMax-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, Frankfurt am Main
Start of initial sponsorship16/04/1993

Programme(s)

1992Humboldt Research Award Programme

Nominator's project description

Professor Blaustein is one of the leading physiologists and biophysicists in the field of hypertension. He developed the hypothesis on the molecular mechanism of the hypertension which includes the existence of the endogenous adrenocortical hormone ouabain, and the inhibition of the sodium pump by the hormone in vascular smooth muscle cells. Consequently, the rise of internal sodium causes via the sodium-calcium exchanger an elevated calcium ion level leading to the hypertension producing vasoconstriction. During his numerous research stays in Germany, Professor Blaustein studied the molecular mechanism of the sodium/calcium exchanger.