Title:

Associate Professor

Coker Life Sciences Building
Room 709

Education

1997: Ph.D. in Physiology, University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
1992: M.S. in Biochemistry and Microbiology with specialization in Human and Animal Physiology University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria

Description of Research Program
My primary research interest is in the mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle function and the role of membrane ion channels in this tissue. In general, my studies have focused on modulation of excitation-contraction coupling in various types of smooth muscle, including vascular, gastrointestinal and urinary bladder. My long-term research interests are focused on understanding urinary bladder smooth muscle function, a field, which is of enormous importance to millions of individuals suffering from different forms of bladder dysfunction. This research is unique and of great potential for understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of bladder. My current NIH grant on the “Beta-adrenergic relaxation of urinary bladder smooth muscle” is focusing on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which beta-adrenergic stimulation promotes urinary bladder smooth muscle relaxation. Urinary bladder relaxes upon stimulation of beta-adrenoceptors, which facilitates the bladder filling phase. However, the exact physiological and molecular mechanisms that mediate this process are not clearly understood. The overall hypothesis of this proposal is that beta-adrenergic stimulation relaxes urinary bladder smooth muscle via multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms, involving Ca2+-activated K+ (BK and SK) channels, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ and bladder epithelium (urothelium).

Selected Publications

Petkov, G.V., Balemba OB, Nelson MT, Mawe GM. (2005). Identification of a spontaneously active, Na⁺-permeable channel in guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle. Am. J. Physiol. - Gastrointest. Liver Physiol., 289 (3), G501-G507.

Petkov, G.V. and Nelson, M.T. (2005). Differential regulation of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK) channels by b-adrenoceptors in guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle. Am. J. Physiol. - Cell Physiol., 288 (6), C1255-C1263.

. Heppner, TJ, Bonev, AD, Eckman, DM, Gomez MF, Petkov, G.V., Nelson, MT. (2005). Novel PPARgamma agonists GI 262570, GW 7845, GW 1929 and pioglitazone decrease calcium channel function and myogenic tone in rat mesenteric arteries. Pharmacology 73 (1), 15-22.

Herrera GM, Pozo MJ, Zvara P, Petkov, G.V., Bond CT, Adelman JP, Nelson MT. (2003). Urinary bladder instability induced by selective suppression of the murine small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK3) channel. J. Physiol., 551 (3), 893-903.

 Petkov, G.V., Bonev, A.D., Heppner, T.J., Brenner, R, Aldrich, RW, Nelson, M.T. (2001). b1-subunit of the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel regulates contractile activity of mouse urinary bladder smooth muscle. J. Physiol., 537 (2), 443-452.

Petkov, G.V., Fusi, F., Saponara, S., Gagov, H.S., Sgaragli G. and Boev, K.K. (2001). Characterization of plasma membrane calcium currents in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat tail main artery. Acta Physiol. Scand., 173 (3), 257-265.

Petkov, G.V., Heppner, TJ, Bonev, AD, Herrera, GM, and Nelson, MT. (2001). Low Levels of K_ATP Channel Activation Decrease Excitability and Contractility of Urinary Bladder. Am. J. Physiol. 280, R1427-R1433.

Petkov, G.V. and Boev, K.K. (1999). Control of the phasic and tonic contractions of guinea pig stomach by a ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ store. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 367 (2-3): 335-341.

Fusi, F., Valoti, M., Petkov, G.V., Boev, K.K., Sgaragli, G.P. (1998). Myorelaxant activity of 2-t-butyl-methoxyphenol (BHA) in guinea pig gastric fundus. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 360, (1), 43-50.

Petkov, G.V., Boev, K.K. (1998). The role of a ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺-store in the regulation of smooth muscle tone of the cat gastric fundus. Gen. Physiol. Biophys. 17 (3), 225-237.

 Petkov, G.V., Spassov, G.D., Boev, K.K. (1998). Role of sarcoplasmic reticulum in the myorelaxant activity of nitric oxide donors in guinea pig gastric fundus. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 354, 59-66.

Petkov, G., Ivanov R., Boev K. (1997). Effects of nitric oxide releasing sodium nitroprussibe and 3-morpholino-sydnonimine in gastric smooth muscles from guinea-pig. Annu. Univ. Sofia, 88 (4), 243-247.

Petkov, G.V. (1997). Function of sarcoplasmic reticulum as a buffer barrier to calcium in gastric fundus smooth muscles. Annu. Univ. Sofia, 88 (4), 248-252.

Petkov, G.V. and Boev, K. (1996). Cyclopiazonic acid-induced changes in contractile activity of smooth muscle strips isolated from cat and guinea-pig stomach. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 318, 109-115.

Petkov, G.V. and Boev, K.K. (1996). The role of sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase in the smooth muscle tone of the cat gastric fundus. Pflugers Arch. - Eur. J. Physiol., 431, 928-935.

Petkov, G. and Boev, K. (1996). The role of extracellular calcium in the contractile effect of cyclopiazonic acid in the cat gastric fundus. Comp. Rend. Acad. Bulg. Sci., 49, (3), 75-78.

Petkov, G., Fusi, F., Boev, K. (1995). Effects of cyclopiazonic acid on the phasic and tonic contractions in the smooth muscles of the guinea-pig and cat stomach. Comp. Rend. Bulg. Acad. Sci., 48, (8), 57-60.

Duridanova, D., Gagov, H., Petkov, G., Shkodrov, G. and Boev, K. (1995). Cyclic GMP activation of potassium currents by sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump-dependent mechanism. Gen. Physiol. Biophys., 14, 139-151.

Petkov, G., Duridanova, D., Gagov, H. and Boev, K. (1994). Effects of sodium nitroprusside on the electrical and contractile activity of cat gastric antrum. Comp. Rend. Bulg. Acad. Sci., 47, (9), 61-64.