Associate Professor Alexander Tups

Contact Details
University Links
- Position
- Associate Professor
- Department
- Department of Physiology
- Qualifications
- PhD
- Research summary
- Neuroendocrinology
Research
- Neuroendocrine regulation of metabolism; in particular, understanding how the adiposity signals, leptin and insulin interact in the hypothalamus to maintain energy homeostasis.
- Identification of novel pathways that are involved in the neuroendocrine control of glucose metabolism.
- Neuroendocrinology of nutrition related diseases: What is the link between type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer's disease?
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
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, 2(4), load026. doi: 10.1093/lifemeta/load026
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., & 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
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, 2(4), load026. 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
Benzler, J., Andrews, Z. B., Pracht, C., Stöhr, S., Shepherd, P. R., Grattan, D. R., & Tups, A. (2013). Hypothalamic WNT signalling is impaired during obesity and reinstated by leptin treatment in male mice. Endocrinology, 154(12), 4737-4745. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1746
Journal - Research Article
Benzler, J., Ganjam, G. K., Legler, K., Stöhr, S., Krüger, M., Steger, J., & Tups, A. (2013). Acute inhibition of central c-Jun N-terminal kinase restores hypothalamic insulin signalling and alleviates glucose intolerance in diabetic mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 25(5), 446-454. doi: 10.1111/jne.12018
Journal - Research Article
Ganjam, G. K., Benzler, J., Pinkenburg, O., Boucsein, A., Stöhr, S., Steger, J., … Tups, A. (2013). Overexpression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in the arcuate nucleus of juvenile Phodopus sungorus alters seasonal body weight changes. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 183(8), 1101-1111. doi: 10.1007/s00360-013-0772-1
Journal - Research Article
Koch, C. E., Ganjam, G. K., Steger, J., Legler, K., Stöhr, S., Schumacher, D., … Tups, A. (2013). The dietary flavonoids naringenin and quercetin acutely impair glucose metabolism in rodents possibly via inhibition of hypothalamic insulin signalling. British Journal of Nutrition, 109(6), 1040-1051. doi: 10.1017/s0007114512003005
Journal - Research Article
Koch, C. E., Göddeke, S., Krüger, M., & Tups, A. (2013). Effect of central and peripheral leucine on energy metabolism in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 183(2), 261-268. doi: 10.1007/s00360-012-0699-y
Journal - Research Article
Benzler, J., Ganjam, G. K., Krüger, M., Pinkenburg, O., Kutschke, M., Stöhr, S., … Grattan, D. R., & Tups, A. (2012). Hypothalamic glycogen synthase kinase 3β has a central role in the regulation of food intake and glucose metabolism. Biochemical Journal, 447(1), 175-184. doi: 10.1042/bj20120834
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A., Stöhr, S., Helwig, M., Barrett, P., Krol, E., Schachtner, J., … Klingenspor, M. (2012). Seasonal leptin resistance is associated with impaired signalling via JAK2-STAT3 but not ERK, possibly mediated by reduced hypothalamic GRB2 protein. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 182(4), 553-567. doi: 10.1007/s00360-011-0637-4
Journal - Research Article
Koch, C., Augustine, R. A., Steger, J., Ganjam, G. K., Benzler, J., Pracht, C., … Anderson, G. M., Grattan, D. R., & Tups, A. (2010). Leptin rapidly improves glucose homeostasis in obese mice by increasing hypothalamic insulin sensitivity. Journal of Neuroscience, 30(48), 16180-16187. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3202-10.2010
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A., Anderson, G. M., Rizwan, M., Augustine, R. A., Chaussade, C., Shepherd, P. R., & Grattan, D. R. (2010). Both p110α and p110β isoforms of phosphatidylinositol 3-OH-kinase are required for insulin signalling in the hypothalamus. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 22(6), 534-542. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.01975.x
Journal - Research Article
Helwig, M., Archer, Z. A., Heldmaier, G., Tups, A., Mercer, J. G., & Klingenspor, M. (2009). Photoperiodic regulation of satiety mediating neuropeptides in the brainstem of the seasonal Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 195(7), 631-642. doi: 10.1007/s00359-009-0438-3
Journal - Research Article
Ladyman, S. R., Tups, A., Augustine, R. A., Swahn-Azavedo, A., Kokay, I. C., & Grattan, D. R. (2009). Loss of hypothalamic response to leptin during pregnancy associated with development of melanocortin resistance. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 21(5), 449-456. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2009.01862.x
Journal - Research Article
Quennell, J. H., Mulligan, A. C., Tups, A., Liu, X., Phipps, S. J., Kemp, C. J., Herbison, A. E., Grattan, D. R., & Anderson, G. M. (2009). Leptin indirectly regulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal function. Endocrinology, 150(6), 2805-2812. doi: 10.1210/en.2008-1693
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A. (2009). Physiological models of leptin resistance [Young investigator perspective]. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 21(11), 961-971. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2009.01916.x
Journal - Research Article
Król, E., Tups, A., Archer, Z. A., Ross, A. W., Moar, K. M., Bell, L. M., … Speakman, J. R. (2007). Altered expression of SOCS3 in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus during seasonal body mass changes in the field vole, Microtus agrestis. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 19(2), 83-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2006.01507.x
Journal - Research Article
Helwig, M., Khorooshi, R. M. H., Tups, A., Barrett, P., Archer, Z. A., Exner, C., … Klingenspor, M. (2006). PC1/3 and PC2 gene expression and post-translational endoproteolytic pro-opiomelanocortin processing is regulated by photoperiod in the seasonal Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 18(6), 413-425. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2006.01431.x
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A., Barrett, P., Cross, A. W., Morgan, P. J., Klingenspor, M., & Mercer, J. G. (2006). The suppressor of cytokine signalling 3, SOCS3, may be one critical modulator of seasonal body weight changes in the Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 18, 139-145. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01394.x
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A., Helwig, M., Stöhr, S., Barrett, P., Mercer, J. G., & Klingenspor, M. (2006). Photoperiodic regulation of insulin receptor mRNA and intracellular insulin signaling in the arcuate nucleus of the Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 291(3), R643-R650. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00807.2005
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A., Ellis, C., Moar, K. M., Logie, T. J., Adam, C. L., Mercer, J. G., & Klingenspor, M. (2004). Photoperiodic regulation of leptin sensitivity in the Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus, is reflected in arcuate nucleus SOCS-3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling) gene expression. Endocrinology, 145(3), 1185-1193. doi: 10.1210/en.2003-1382
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A., Helwig, M., Khorooshi, R. M. H., Archer, Z. A., Klingenspor, M., & Mercer, J. G. (2004). Circulating ghrelin levels and central ghrelin receptor expression are elevated in response to food deprivation in a seasonal mammal (Phodopus sungorus). Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 16(11), 922-928. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2004.01251.x
Journal - Research Article
Mercer, J. G., & Tups, A. (2003). Neuropeptides and anticipatory changes in behaviour and physiology: Seasonal body weight regulation in the Siberian hamster. European Journal of Pharmacology, 480, 43-50.
Journal - Research Article
Tups, A. (2003). The leptin resistance paradox: Molecular dissection of leptin signalling pathways in the central nervous system. BIF Futura, 18, 107-108.
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Other
Loehfelm, A., Boucsein, A., Pretz, D., & Tups, A. (2019). Timing matters: Circadian effects on energy homeostasis and Alzheimer's disease. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 30(2), 132-143. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2018.12.001
Journal - Research Other