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, Research Fellow
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide: an incretin at the interface of neuroendocrine regulation of metabolism and nutrition.
Email: aline.boer@otaog.ac.nz
Kaj Kamstra, Assistant Research Fellow
WNT signalling and diabetes
Email kaj.kamstra@otago.ac.nz
Mohammed Rizwan, Research Fellow
Neuroendocrine control of metabolism
Email mohammed.rizwan@otago.ac.nz
Emma Lester, Masters student
Jun Sun, Honours student
Visit Our people for an alphabetical list of all Centre for Neuroendocrinology staff.
Publications
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
Boucsein, A., Kamstra, K., & Tups, A. (2021). Central signalling cross-talk between insulin and leptin in glucose and energy homeostasis [Invited]. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, e12944. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jne.12944
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
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
Kamstra, K., Horsfield, J. A., & Tups, A. (2020). The effects of leptin mutations and diet-induced obesity on glucose homeostasis in the zebrafish. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1527), (pp. 129). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
