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Research interests

The focus of our research at the Centre for Neuroendocrinology is on the neuroendocrine regulation of metabolism. In particular we are interested in the central interaction of the adiposity hormones leptin and insulin, which appears crucial for the maintenance of energy and glucose homeostasis. We established that a loss of central leptin action during obesity leads to impaired insulin action, which might explain the striking correlation of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

We investigate neuroendocrine mechanisms that link obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

We focus on manipulating these crucial pathways via nutritive, genetherapeutic and pharmacological approaches to potentially avoid the manifestation of nutrition related diseases.

Clinical conditions

  • Obesity
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Cancer

List of publications for Alexander Tups (Google Scholar)

Tups Laboratory staff & students

Aline Boer_webAline Boer, Research Fellow
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide: an incretin at the interface of neuroendocrine regulation of metabolism and nutrition.
Email: aline.boer@otaog.ac.nz

Pramuk Keerthisinghe_webPramuk Keerthisinghe, Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: pramuk.keerthisinghe@otago.ac.nz

Georgia Jones, Honours student

Emma Lester, Masters student

Sapna Vyas, Honours student

Visit Our people for an alphabetical list of all Centre for Neuroendocrinology staff.

Publications

Publications

Rizwan, M. Z., Kerbus, R., Kamstra, K., Keerthisinghe, P., & Tups, A. (2023). Dietary wheat gluten induces astro- and microgliosis in the hypothalamus of male mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, e13326. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jne.13326
Journal - Research Article
Pretz, D., Heyward, P. M., Krebs, J., Gruchot, J., Barter, C., Silcock, P., Downes, N., Rizwan, M. Z., Boucsein, A., Bender, J., Burgess, E. J., Boer, G. A., Keerthisinghe, P., Perry, N. B., & Tups, A. (2023). A dahlia flower extract has anti-diabetic properties by improving insulin function in the brain. Life Metabolism, load026. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/lifemeta/load026
Journal - Research Article
Kamstra, K., & Tups, A. (2023). Neuroendocrine interactions in the control of glucose- and energy homeostasis. In A. Kleinridders (Ed.), Physiological consequences of brain insulin action. (pp. 63-78). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003079927-5
Chapter in Book - Research
Kamstra, K., & Tups, A. (2023). Neuroendocrine interactions in the control of glucose- and energy homeostatis. In A. Kleinridders (Ed.), Physiological consequences of brain insulin action. (pp. 63-78). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003079927
Chapter in Book - Research
Boer, G. A., Hay, D. L., & Tups, A. (2022). Obesity pharmacotherapy: Incretin action in the central nervous system [Review]. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 44(1), 50-63. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.11.001
Journal - Research Article
Kamstra, K., & Tups, A. (2023). Neuroendocrine interactions in the control of glucose- and energy homeostatis. In A. Kleinridders (Ed.), Physiological consequences of brain insulin action. (pp. 63-78). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003079927
Chapter in Book - Research
Kamstra, K., & Tups, A. (2023). Neuroendocrine interactions in the control of glucose- and energy homeostasis. In A. Kleinridders (Ed.), Physiological consequences of brain insulin action. (pp. 63-78). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003079927-5
Chapter in Book - Research
Pretz, D., Heyward, P. M., Krebs, J., Gruchot, J., Barter, C., Silcock, P., Downes, N., Rizwan, M. Z., Boucsein, A., Bender, J., Burgess, E. J., Boer, G. A., Keerthisinghe, P., Perry, N. B., & Tups, A. (2023). A dahlia flower extract has anti-diabetic properties by improving insulin function in the brain. Life Metabolism, load026. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/lifemeta/load026
Journal - Research Article
Rizwan, M. Z., Kerbus, R., Kamstra, K., Keerthisinghe, P., & Tups, A. (2023). Dietary wheat gluten induces astro- and microgliosis in the hypothalamus of male mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, e13326. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jne.13326
Journal - Research Article
Boer, G. A., Hay, D. L., & Tups, A. (2022). Obesity pharmacotherapy: Incretin action in the central nervous system [Review]. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 44(1), 50-63. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.11.001
Journal - Research Article
Kamstra, K., Rizwan, M. Z., Grattan, D. R., Horsfield, J. A., & Tups, A. (2022). Leptin regulates glucose homeostasis via the canonical Wnt pathway in the zebrafish. FASEB Journal, 36, e22207. doi: 10.1096/fj.202101764R
Journal - Research Article
Loehfelm, A., Rizwan, M. Z., & Tups, A. (2021). A New Zealand green-lipped mussel oil-enriched high-fat diet exhibits beneficial effects on body weight and metabolism in mice. British Journal of Nutrition, 125(9), 972-982. doi: 10.1017/s0007114520002342
Journal - Research Article
Pretz, D., Le Foll, C., Rizwan, M. Z., Lutz, T. A., & Tups, A. (2021). Hyperleptinemia as a contributing factor for the impairment of glucose intolerance in obesity. FASEB Journal, 35, e21216. doi: 10.1096/fj.202001147R
Journal - Research Article
Loehfelm, A., Elder, M. K., Boucsein, A., Jones, P. P., Williams, J. M., & Tups, A. (2020). Docosahexaenoic acid prevents palmitate-induced insulin-dependent impairments of neuronal health. FASEB Journal, 34, 4635-4652. doi: 10.1096/fj.201902517R
Journal - Research Article
Benzler, M., Benzler, J., Stoehr, S., Hempp, C., Rizwan, M. Z., Heyward, P., & Tups, A. (2019). "Insulin-like" effects of palmitate compromise insulin signalling in hypothalamic neurons. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 189(3-4), 413-424. doi: 10.1007/s00360-019-01220-0
Journal - Research Article
Boucsein, A., Rizwan, M. Z., & Tups, A. (2019). Hypothalamic leptin sensitivity and health benefits of time-restricted feeding are dependent on the time of day in male mice. FASEB Journal, 33, 12175-12187. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901004R
Journal - Research Article
Skinner, N. J., Rizwan, M. Z., Grattan, D. R., & Tups, A. (2019). Chronic light cycle disruption alters central insulin and leptin signaling as well as metabolic markers in male mice. Endocrinology, 160(10), 2257-2270. doi: 10.1210/en.2018-00935
Journal - Research Article
McEwen, H. J. L., Cognard, E., Ladyman, S. R., Khant-Aung, Z., Tups, A., Shepherd, P. R., & Grattan, D. R. (2018). Feeding and GLP-1 receptor activation stabilize beta-catenin in specific hypothalamic nuclei in male rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 30(6), e12607, 1-10. doi: 10.1111/jne.12607
Journal - Research Article
Sergi, D., Campbell, F. M., Grant, C., Morris, A. C., Bachmair, E.-M., Koch, C., … Tups, A., & Williams, L. M. (2018). SerpinA3N is a novel hypothalamic gene upregulated by a high-fat diet and leptin in mice 06 Biological Sciences 0604 Genetics. Genes & Nutrition, 13, 28. doi: 10.1186/s12263-018-0619-1
Journal - Research Article
Rizwan, M. Z., Mehlitz, S., Grattan, D. R., & Tups, A. (2017). Temporal and regional onset of leptin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 29(10), e12481. doi: 10.1111/jne.12481
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A., Benzler, J., Sergi, D., Ladyman, S. R., & Williams, L. M. (2017). Central regulation of glucose homeostasis. Comprehensive Physiology, 7(2), 741-764. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c160015
Journal - Research Article
Boucsein, A., Benzler, J., Hempp, C., Stöhr, S., Helfer, G., & Tups, A. (2016). Photoperiodic and diurnal regulation of WNT signaling in the arcuate nucleus of the female Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. Endocrinology, 157(2), 799-809. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1708
Journal - Research Article
Helfer, G., & Tups, A. (2016). Hypothalamic Wnt signalling and its role in energy balance regulation. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 28. doi: 10.1111/jne.12368
Journal - Research Article
Benzler, J., Ganjam, G. K., Pretz, D., Oelkrug, R., Koch, C. E., Legler, K., … Tups, A. (2015). Central inhibition of IKKβ/NF-κB signalling attenuates high-fat diet–induced obesity and glucose intolerance. Diabetes, 64, 2015-2027. doi: 10.2337/db14-0093
Journal - Research Article
Stark, R., Reichenbach, A., Lockie, S. H., Pracht, C., Wu, Q., Tups, A., & Andrews, Z. B. (2015). Acyl ghrelin acts in the brain to control liver function and peripheral glucose homeostasis in male mice. Endocrinology, 156(3), 858-868. doi: 10.1210/en.2014-1733
Journal - Research Article
Briggs, D. I., Lockie, S. H., Benzler, J., Wu, Q., Stark, R., Reichenbach, A., … Tups, A., & Andrews, Z. B. (2014). Evidence that diet-induced hyperleptinemia, but not hypothalamic gliosis, causes ghrelin resistance in NPY/AgRP neurons of male mice. Endocrinology, 155(7), 2411-2422. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1861
Journal - Research Article
Koch, C. E., Lowe, C., Legler, K., Benzler, J., Boucsein, A., Böttiger, G., Grattan, D. R., … Tups, A. (2014). Central adiponectin acutely improves glucose tolerance in male mice. Endocrinology, 155(5), 1806-1816. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1734
Journal - Research Article
Koch, C. E., Lowe, C., Pretz, D., Steger, J., Williams, L. M., & Tups, A. (2014). High-fat diet induces leptin resistance in leptin-deficient mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 26(2), 58-67. doi: 10.1111/jne.12131
Journal - Research Article
Penzkofer, D., Bonauer, A., Fischer, A., Tups, A., Brandes, R. P., Zeiher, A. M., & Dimmeler, S. (2014). Phenotypic characterization of miR-92a-/- mice reveals an important function of miR-92a in skeletal development. PLoS ONE, 9(6), e101153. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101153
Journal - Research Article
Williams, L. M., Campbell, F. M., Drew, J. E., Koch, C., Hoggard, N., Rees, W. D., … Tups, A. (2014). The development of diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in C57BL/6 mice on a high-fat diet consists of distinct phases. PLoS ONE, 9(8), e106159. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106159
Journal - Research Article
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