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
Pramuk 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
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
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
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
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, 33, e12944. doi: 10.1111/jne.12944
