Dr Denovan Begg | Brain Sciences UNSW

Tabs

Main

University role:

Senior Lecturer

Phone:

0293852441

Email:

d.begg@unsw.edu.au

ABOUT ME

Biography

My research is primarily focused on the field of behavioural neuroscience. I examine the central nervous systems regulation of food, fluid and nutrient intake. I also examine the effects of macro and micro nutrients on the brain and behaviour.

Education

- PhD, Nutritional Neuroscience, Deakin University, 2011
- MBSc, Behavioural Neuroscience, La Trobe University, 2008
- BBSc (Hons), Behavioural Science, La Trobe University, 2003

RESEARCH

Research Goals

- - The homeostatic regulation of ingestive behaviour and body weight regulation
  - The transport of adiposity signals across the blood brain barrier
  - The cardiovascular effects of dietary fatty acids and their metabolites
  - The role of eicosanoids in the stress response

Research in Detail

The primary goals of my lab are (1) to examine the mechanisms underlying obesity and (2) to examine how dietary changes alter behaviour. The lab uses both in vivo and in vitro models to examine transport of adiposity signals across the blood brain barrier. Techniques utilized by the lab include a range of genetic models, behavioural tests, small animal surgery and molecular approaches.

Research Grants

- - CJ Martin fellowship, 2011-2015, The renin-angiotensin system and obesity

Current Student Projects (PhD and Honours)

The cyclooxygenase-eicosanoid pathway and stress-induced spatial learning deficits.

Supervision Opportunities/Areas

Physiological factors altering transport of the adiposity signal insulin into the central nervous system.

The effect of dietary fatty acids and eicosanoid inhibition on the stress response.

What are the causal links between angiotensin, obesity and inflammation?

Advice for prospective students

If you are interested in potential honours of higher degree projects, or if you would like to gain some experience in a neuroscience lab, email me to discuss the options available to you.

TEACHING & OUTREACH

Courses I teach

PSYC1011 - Psychology 1B

Professional affiliations and service positions

Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior.

International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids.

The Endocrine Society.

American Heart Association.

Neuroendocrinology Australasia.

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

2009 - Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, New Investigator Travel Award.

2012 - International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL), New Investigator Award.

Research

Field of Research (FOR) Tag:

Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology)

Neurobiology

Neurosciences

Comparative Physiology

Neurogenetics

Socio-economic Objective (SEO) tags:

Nutrition

Diabetes

Behavioural and cognitive sciences

Media

LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=286359258&trk=spm_pic

Publications related to this Person

Book Chapters

Begg DP; Woods SC, 2014, 'Hunger and satiety signaling', in Diet, Exercise, and Chronic Disease: The Biological Basis of Prevention, pp. 391 - 404, http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/b16783

Weisinger RS; Begg DP; Stahl L; Weisinger HS; Sinclair AJ; Jois M, 2007, 'The role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in food intake and energy homeostasis', in Fatty Acids in Foods and their Health Implications, Third Edition, pp. 837 - 854

Journal articles

Loh K; Zhang L; Brandon A; Wang Q; Begg D; Qi Y; Fu M; Kulkarni R; Teo J; Baldock P, 2017, 'Insulin controls food intake and energy balance via NPY neurons', Molecular Metabolism, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2017.03.013

Begg DP, 2017, 'Disturbances of thirst and fluid balance associated with aging', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 178, pp. 28 - 34, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.03.003

Woods SC; May AA; Liu M; Tso P; Begg DP, 2017, 'Using the cerebrospinal fluid to understand ingestive behavior', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 178, pp. 172 - 178, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.11.037

May AA; Liu M; Woods SC; Begg DP, 2016, 'CCK increases the transport of insulin into the brain', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 165, pp. 392 - 397, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.08.025

Woods SC; Begg DP, 2016, 'Regulation of the motivation to eat', Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol. 27, pp. 15 - 34, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/7854_2015_381

Begg DP; May AA; Mul JD; Liu M; D'Alessio DA; Seeley RJ; Woods SC, 2015, 'InsulinDetemir is transported fromblood to cerebrospinal fluid and has prolonged central anorectic action relative to NPH Insulin', Diabetes, vol. 64, pp. 2457 - 2466, http://dx.doi.org/10.2337/db14-1364

Obici S; Magrisso IJ; Ghazarian AS; Shirazian A; Miller JR; Loyd CM; Begg DP; Krawczewski Carhuatanta KA; Haas MK; Davis JF, 2015, 'Moderate voluntary exercise attenuates the metabolic syndrome in melanocortin-4 receptor-deficient rats showing central dopaminergic dysregulation', Molecular Metabolism, vol. 4, pp. 692 - 705, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2015.07.003

Woods SC; Begg DP, 2015, 'Food for thought: Revisiting the complexity of food intake', Cell Metabolism, vol. 22, pp. 348 - 351, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.08.017

Begg DP, 2015, 'Insulin Transport into the Brain and Cerebrospinal Fluid', Vitamins and Hormones, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.vh.2014.12.007

Cichello SA; Begg D; Jois M; Weisinger R, 2014, 'Addition of 2% crushed fenugreek seed to a high-fat diet reduces bone mineral density in C57Bl/6J mice', Nutritional Therapy and Metabolism, vol. 32, pp. 146 - 151, http://dx.doi.org/10.5301/NTM.2014.12690

Cichello SA; Begg D; Weisinger R, 2014, 'Anxiety behaviour displayed in C57BL/6J mice consuming coffee and cocoa, but not observed in mice consuming Japanese green tea in a high fat diet induced obesity model', Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, vol. 2, pp. 33 - 39, http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.2.1.05

Mul JD; Begg DP; Haller AM; Pressler JW; Sorrell J; Woods SC; Farese RV; Seeley RJ; Sandoval DA, 2014, 'MGAT2 deficiency and vertical sleeve gastrectomy have independent metabolic effects in the mouse', American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 307, pp. E1065 - E1072, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00376.2014

Begg DP; Steinbrecher KA; Mul JD; Chambers AP; Kohli R; Haller A; Cohen MB; Woods SC; Seeley RJ, 2014, 'Effect of guanylate cyclase-C activity on energy and glucose homeostasis', Diabetes, vol. 63, pp. 3798 - 3804, http://dx.doi.org/10.2337/db14-0160

Ryan KK; Mul JD; Clemmensen C; Egan AE; Begg DP; Halcomb K; Seeley RJ; Herman JP; Ulrich-Lai YM, 2014, 'Loss of melanocortin-4 receptor function attenuates HPA responses to psychological stress', Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 42, pp. 98 - 105, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.01.010

Hafandi A; Begg DP; Premaratna SD; Sinclair AJ; Jois M; Weisinger RS, 2014, 'Dietary repletion with ω3 fatty acid or with COX inhibition reverses cognitive effects in F3 ω3 fatty-acid-deficient mice', Comparative Medicine, vol. 64, pp. 106 - 109

Grayson BE; Fitzgerald MF; Hakala-Finch AP; Ferris VM; Begg DP; Tong J; Woods SC; Seeley RJ; Davidson TL; Benoit SC, 2014, 'Improvements in hippocampal-dependent memory and microglial infiltration with calorie restriction and gastric bypass surgery, but not with vertical sleeve gastrectomy', International Journal of Obesity, vol. 38, pp. 349 - 356, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.100

Chambers AP; Smith EP; Begg DP; Grayson BE; Sisley S; Greer T; Sorrell J; Lemmen L; LaSance K; Woods SC, 2014, 'Regulation of gastric emptying rate and its role in nutrient-induced GLP-1 secretion in rats after vertical sleeve gastrectomy', American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 306, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00469.2013

Begg DP; Mul JD; Liu M; Reedy BM; D'Alessio DA; Seeley RJ; Woods SC, 2013, 'Reversal of diet-induced obesity increases insulin transport into cerebrospinal fluid and restores sensitivity to the anorexic action of central insulin in male rats', Endocrinology, vol. 154, pp. 1047 - 1054, http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2012-1929

Begg DP; Woods SC, 2013, 'Interactions between the central nervous system and pancreatic islet secretions: A historical perspective', American Journal of Physiology - Advances in Physiology Education, vol. 37, pp. 53 - 60, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/advan.00167.2012

Stemmer K; Bielohuby M; Grayson BE; Begg DP; Chambers AP; Neff C; Woods SC; Erben RG; Tschöp MH; Bidlingmaier M, 2013, 'Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery but not vertical sleeve gastrectomy decreases bone mass in male rats', Endocrinology, vol. 154, pp. 2015 - 2024, http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2012-2130

Mul JD; Begg DP; Barrera JG; Li B; Matter EK; D'Alessio DA; Woods SC; Seeley RJ; Sandoval DA, 2013, 'High-fat diet changes the temporal profile of GLP-1 receptor-mediated hypophagia in rats', American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 305, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00588.2012

Mul JD; Seeley RJ; Woods SC; Begg DP, 2013, 'Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition reduces food intake and weight gain and improves glucose tolerance in melanocortin-4 receptor deficient female rats', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 121, pp. 43 - 48, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.01.013

Begg DP; Woods SC, 2013, 'The endocrinology of food intake', Nature Reviews Endocrinology, vol. 9, pp. 584 - 597, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.136

Begg DP; Woods SC, 2013, 'Hedonic and homeostatic overlap following fat ingestion', Cell Metabolism, vol. 18, pp. 459 - 460, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2013.09.012

Cichello SA; Begg DP; Jois M; Weisinger RS, 2013, 'Prevention of diet-induced obesity in C57BL/BJ mice with addition of 2 % dietary green tea but not with cocoa or coffee to a high-fat diet', Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 6, pp. 233 - 238, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12349-013-0137-z

Premaratna SD; Manickam E; Begg DP; Rayment DJ; Hafandi A; Jois M; Cameron-Smith D; Weisinger RS, 2012, 'Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition reverses diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation in C57BL/6J mice', International Journal of Obesity, vol. 36, pp. 233 - 243, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.95

Begg DP; Woods SC, 2012, 'The central insulin system and energy balance', Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol. 209, pp. 111 - 129, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-24716-3_5

Begg DP; Puskás LG; Kitajka K; Ménesi D; Allen AM; Li D; Mathai ML; Shi JR; Sinclair AJ; Weisinger RS, 2012, 'Hypothalamic gene expression in ω-3 PUFA-deficient male rats before, and following, development of hypertension', Hypertension Research, vol. 35, pp. 381 - 387, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/hr.2011.194

Yoshimichi G; Lo CC; Tamashiro KLK; Ma L; Lee DM; Begg DP; Liu M; Sakai RR; Woods SC; Yoshimatsu H, 2012, 'Effect of peripheral administration of cholecystokinin on food intake in apolipoprotein AIV knockout mice', American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, vol. 302, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00325.2010

Mul JD; Begg DP; Alsters SIM; van Haaften G; Duran KJ; D'Alessio DA; le Roux CW; Woods SC; Sandoval DA; Blakemore AIF, 2012, 'Effect of Vertical sleeve gastrectomy in melanocortin receptor 4-deficient rats', American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 303, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00159.2012

Liu M; Shen L; Begg DP; D'alessio DA; Woods SC, 2012, 'Insulin increases central apolipoprotein E levels as revealed by an improved technique for collection of cerebrospinal fluid from rats', Journal of Neuroscience Methods, vol. 209, pp. 106 - 112, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2012.05.034

Begg DP; Sinclair AJ; Weisinger RS, 2012, 'Thirst deficits in aged rats are reversed by dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation', Neurobiology of Aging, vol. 33, pp. 2422 - 2430, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.12.001

Begg DP; Sinclair AJ; Weisinger RS, 2012, 'Reductions in water and sodium intake by aged male and female rats', Nutrition Research, vol. 32, pp. 865 - 872, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2012.09.014

MacDonald L; Begg D; Weisinger RS; Kent S, 2012, 'Calorie restricted rats do not increase metabolic rate post-LPS, but do seek out warmer ambient temperatures to behaviourally induce a fever', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 107, pp. 762 - 772, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.06.009

Kaur G; Begg DP; Barr D; Garg M; Cameron-Smith D; Sinclair AJ, 2010, 'Short-term docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) supplementation increases tissue docosapentaenoic acid, DHA and EPA concentrations in rats', British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 103, pp. 32 - 37, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114509991334

Begg DP; Sinclair AJ; Stahl LA; Garg ML; Jois M; Weisinger RS, 2010, 'Dietary protein level interacts with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency to induce hypertension', American Journal of Hypertension, vol. 23, pp. 125 - 128, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ajh.2009.198

Begg DP; Sinclair AJ; Stahl LA; Premaratna SD; Hafandi A; Jois M; Weisinger RS, 2010, 'Hypertension induced by-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency is alleviated by α-linolenic acid regardless of dietary source', Hypertension Research, vol. 33, pp. 808 - 813, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/hr.2010.84

Weisinger RS; Armitage JA; Chen N; Begg DP; Mathai ML; Jayasooriya AP; Sinclair AJ; Weisinger HS, 2010, 'Sodium appetite in adult rats following ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency in early development', Appetite, vol. 55, pp. 393 - 397, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.07.006

Weisinger RS; Begg DP; Denton DA; Findlay ALR; Kennedy GA; Purcell B; Walker LL; Blair-West JR, 2009, 'Endocrine and ingestive behavioral responses to fluid deprivation in sheep chronically exposed to ethanol', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 96, pp. 637 - 645, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.12.021

Weisinger RS; Stanley TK; Begg DP; Weisinger HS; Spark KJ; Jois M, 2009, 'Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition lowers body weight and improves glucose tolerance in C57BL/6J mice maintained on a high fat diet', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 98, pp. 192 - 197, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.05.009

Hallam KT; Begg DP; Olver JS; Norman TR, 2009, 'Abnormal dose-response melatonin suppression by light in bipolar type i patients compared with healthy adult subjects', Acta Neuropsychiatrica, vol. 21, pp. 246 - 255, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-5215.2009.00416.x

Weisinger RS; Begg DP; Jois M, 2009, 'Antagonists of the renin-angiotensin system and the prevention of obesity', Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, vol. 10, pp. 1069 - 1077

Chen N; Bezzina R; Hinch E; Lewandowski PA; Cameron-Smith D; Mathai ML; Jois M; Sinclair AJ; Begg DP; Wark JD, 2009, 'Green tea, black tea, and epigallocatechin modify body composition, improve glucose tolerance, and differentially alter metabolic gene expression in rats fed a high-fat diet', Nutrition Research, vol. 29, pp. 784 - 793, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2009.10.003

Stahl LA; Begg DP; Weisinger RS; Sinclair AJ, 2008, 'The role of omega-3 fatty acids in mood disorders', Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, vol. 9, pp. 57 - 64

Jayasooriya AP; Begg DP; Chen N; Mathai ML; Sinclair AJ; Wilkinson-Berka J; Wark JD; Weisinger HS; Weisinger RS, 2008, 'Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces hypertension in TGR(mRen-2)27 rats', Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, vol. 78, pp. 67 - 72, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2007.11.001

Hallam KT; Begg DP; Olver JS; Norman TR, 2008, 'An investigation of the effect of immediate and extended release venlafaxine on nocturnal melatonin and cortisol release in healthy adult volunteers', Human Psychopharmacology, vol. 23, pp. 129 - 137, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hup.913

Weisinger HS; Begg DP; Egan GF; Jayasooriya AP; Lie F; Mathai ML; Sinclair AJ; Wark JD; Weisinger RS, 2008, 'Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition from birth reduces body weight and body fat in Sprague-Dawley rats', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 93, pp. 820 - 825, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.11.046

Jayasooriya AP; Mathai ML; Walker LL; Begg DP; Denton DA; Cameron-Smith D; Egan GF; McKinley MJ; Rodger PD; Sinclair AJ, 2008, 'Mice lacking angiotensin-converting enzyme have increased energy expenditure, with reduced fat mass and improved glucose clearance', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 105, pp. 6531 - 6536, http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0802690105

Begg DP; Mathai ML; McKinley MJ; Frappell PB; Kent S, 2008, 'Central nitric oxide synthase inhibition restores behaviorally mediated lipopolysaccharide induced fever in near-term rats', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 94, pp. 630 - 634, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.022

Begg DP; Weisinger RS, 2008, 'The role of adrenal or testicular hormones in voluntary ethanol and NaCl intake of crowded and individually housed rats', Physiology and Behavior, vol. 93, pp. 408 - 413, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.09.007

Attar-Bashi NM; Weisinger RS; Begg DP; Li D; Sinclair AJ, 2007, 'Failure of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation to enhance biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid from α-linolenic acid in healthy human volunteers', Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, vol. 76, pp. 121 - 130, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2006.11.002

Weisinger RS; Begg DP; Chen N; Jois M; Mathai ML; Sinclair AJ, 2007, 'The problem of obesity: Is there a role for antagonists of the renin-angiotensin system?', Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 16, pp. 359 - 367

Sinclair AJ; Begg D; Mathai M; Weisinger RS, 2007, 'Omega 3 fatty acids and the brain: Review of studies in depression', Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 16, pp. 391 - 397

Begg DP; Kent S; McKinley MJ; Mathai ML, 2007, 'Suppression of endotoxin-induced fever in near-term pregnant rats is mediated by brain nitric oxide', American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 292, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00032.2007

Hallam KT; Olver JS; Chambers V; Begg DP; McGrath C; Norman TR, 2006, 'The heritability of melatonin secretion and sensitivity to bright nocturnal light in twins', Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 31, pp. 867 - 875, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.04.004

Begg DP; Hallam KT; Norman TR, 2005, 'Attenuation of benzodiazepine withdrawal anxiety in the rat by serotonin antagonists', Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 161, pp. 286 - 290, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2005.02.027

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