Amparo Villablanca
Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine
avillablanca@ucdavis.edu

Cardiovascular Physio(IntMed)

Office
TB 172
(530) 752-0717; 752-0718



 
Degrees:
1990 University of California,Davis Cardiovascular Medicine - Fellowship
1986 University of California, Davis Internal Medicine - Residency
1983 MD University of California, Davis
1979 BS University of California, Los Angeles Psychobiology
Research Interests:

Vascular biology, hormonal regulation of gene expression in tissues and cells, atherosclerosis, mouse biology, women's health.
Awards:
1999 Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award, UC Davis School of Medicine
2000 Woman of Achievement in Medicine Award, Capitol Business and Professional Women Association, Sacramento, CA
2003- Fellow, American Heart Association (FAHA) Council on Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
2007 Recipient, Heart of Gold Award, American Heart Association
Department and Center Affiliations:
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Associate Director, Women's Center for Health
Director, Hormones and Atherosclerosis Laboratory, Mouse Biology Program, Center for Comparative Medicine, UC Davis
Professional Societies:
American Heart Association, Council on Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
CBS Graduate Group Affiliations:
Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology  
Publications:
  • Corbacho, AM, Eiserich, JP, Zuniga, LA, Valacchi, G, Cross, CE, and Villablanca, AC. Compromised Aortic Vasoreactivity in Male Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Deficient Mice During Acute Lipopolyssacharide-Induced Inflammation. (2006, in press, Endocrinology).
  • Benton, J., Powers, A., Eiselein, L., Fitch, R., Wilson, D., Villablanca, A.C., and Rutledge, J. Hyperglycemia and loss of ovarian hormones mediate atheroma formation through endothelial layer disruption and increased permeability (2006, in press, American J. Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, special issue on gender and cardiovascular disease).
  • Wang-Polagruto, J.,Villablanca, A.C., Polagruto, J, Lee, L.., Holt, RA., Schrader, H., Ensunsa, J., Steinberg, FM., Schmitz, H., and Keen, CL. Chronic Consumption of Flavanol-rich Cocoa Improves Endothelial Function and Decreases Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM-1) in Hypercholesterolemic Postmenopausal Women (J. Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 47[Suppl 2]:S177-S186, 2006.
  • Villablanca, A.C., Lubhan, D, Shelby, L., Lloyd, K, and Barthold, S. Susceptibility to early atherosclerosis in male mice is mediated by estrogen receptor a (ERa). Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 24:1055-1061, 2004 (with journal editorial). Erratum in: Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2004, 24(6):1055-1061.
  • Steinberg, F.M., Guthrie, N.G., Villablanca, A.C., Kumar, K., and Murray, M.J. In healthy post-menopausal women soy isoflavones have favorable effects on endothelial function, which are independent of lipid and antioxidant effects. Amer. J. Clinical Nutrition, 78:123-130, 2003.
  • Villablanca, A.C., K.A. Lewis and J.C. Rutledge. Differential regulation of gene expression by ovariectomy in mouse aorta. Physiological Genomics 12:175-185, 2003.
  • Villablanca AC, Lewis KA and JC Rutledge. 2002. Time- and dose-dependent differential upregulation of three genes by 17 beta-estradiol in endothelial cells. J Appl Physiol. 92(3):1064-1073
  • Villablanca AC. 1998. Nicotine stimulates DNA synthesis and proliferation in vascular endothelial cells in vitro. J Appl Physiol. 84(6):2089-2098
  • Villablanca AC and MR Hanley. 1997. 17 beta-estradiol stimulates substance P receptor gene expression. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 135(2):109-117
Field Sites:
Surge III
Teaching Interests:
Multiple courses for undergraduates,medical students, physicians and allied health professional continuing medical education, and community/lay groups.