The first deals with understanding the basic mechanisms underlying aging. Consequently, the focus of these studies is towards understanding the mechanisms of action of food restriction in the retardation of the aging process. The focus in this regard is the profound influence of the calcium ion in the regulation of cellular functions and the growing evidence that this function declines with age. Therefore, studies have been initiated to provide critical information on whether food restriction mediates its anti-aging effects, in part, by altering intracellular calcium regulation. The second research interest is directed toward understanding the factors involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis as a background for developing therapeutic interventions for the disease.
Osteoporosis is a prevalent age-related disease characterized by decreased bone mass.
A rat model has been developed which is suitable for studying the bone loss due, specifically, to ovarian hormone deficiency as occurs in postmenopausal osteoporosis. The model permits evaluation of the pathogenesis of the bone loss as well as the therapeutic potential of a variety of hormones and new growth factors for osteoporosis, and to investigate their mechanisms of action. Calcium absorption and bone loss in ovariectomized rats fed varying levels of dietary calcium. Ovariectomized murine model of postmenopausal calcium malabsorption. Growth hormone and the expression of mRNAs for matrix proteins and oncogenes in bone.