Cathryn Kolka, PhD

Research Scientist, Diabetes & Obesity Rsrch Inst
Email:cathryn.kolka@cshs.org
Phone:(310) 967-2791
Fax:(310) 967-3869

Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences

Awards and Activities

Faculty of 1000 Recommendation2012
Pat Simons Award (recognizing research excellence by young investigators): Obesity Society2009
Reviewer: American Journal of Physiology and DiabetologiaCurrent
Obesity Society2011
American Heart Association2012

Research Focus

Access of insulin and other nutrients to insulin sensitive tissues. Investigate hemodynamic changes that affect metabolism. Measure access of insulin to muscle, a major component of insulin sensitivity, andhow this is altered by diabetes and insulin resistance. Measure interstitial concentration of insulin to predict insulin action, test molecules that increase access to improve insulin sensitivity in animals models.

Research Contributions

Demonstrated close relationship between interstitial insulin and glucose uptake, and showed impaired distribution of insulin through the interstitium in insulin resistant states.

Current investigations include:

Insulin access to skeletal muscle in diet-induced insulin resistance. Use of drugs to improve insulin access and restore insulin sensitivity. Measurement of muscle perfusion.

Selected Publications

  1. Kolka CM, Bergman RN: The barrier within: endothelial transport of hormones. Physiology (Bethesda), 27(4): 237-47, 2012
  2. Kolka CM, Harrison LN, Lottati M, Chiu JD, Kirkman EL, Bergman RN: Diet-induced obesity prevents interstitial dispersion of insulin in skeletal muscle. Diabetes, 59(3): 619-26, 2009
  3. Chiu JD, Kolka CM, Richey JM, Harrison LN, Zuniga E, Kirkman EL, Bergman RN: Experimental hyperlipidemia dramatically reduces access of insulin to canine skeletal muscle. Obesity (Silver Spring), 17(8): 1486-92, 2009
  4. Kolka CM, Rattigan S, Richards SM, Clark MG: Potential for endothelin-1-mediated impairment of contractile activity in hypertension. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol., 34(3): 217-22, 2007
  5. Kolka CM, Rattigan S, Richards SM, Barrett EJ, Clark MG: Endothelial Na+-D-glucose cotransporter: no role in insulin-mediated glucose uptake. Horm. Metab. Res., 37(11): 657-61, 2005
  6. Kolka CM, Rattigan S, Richards S, Clark MG: Metabolic and vascular actions of endothelin-1 are inhibited by insulin-mediated vasodilation in perfused rat hindlimb muscle. Br. J. Pharmacol., 145(7): 992-1000, 2005
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