Sara Jarvis Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Regulation Laboratory
What we study
Our lab focuses on examining the regulation of the cardiovascular system during a variety of perturbations. We have a particular interest in how this may differ between the sexes, as well as the disparities that exist between racial groups.
Why is this important?
We are learning that a one-size-fits-all approach to medicine does not work well. There are sex-specific pathways that exist. This means that women and men regulate variables like blood pressure differently when presented with a challenge. Thus, when a dysregulation exists, we must approach these problems differently. The same exists for racial-based differences, of which, we are just beginning to understand.
Lab personnel
Sara Jarvis, PhD – Principal Investigator
Jyotika Erram – PhD student
Leah Claus – MS student
Natalie Cox – MS student
Liam Berkland – Undergraduate researcher
Caitlin Durning – Undergraduate researcher
Matthew Greyeyes – Undergraduate researcher
Andres Huerta – Undergraduate researcher
Alisha LaBuda – Undergraduate researcher
Current studies
The influence of Native American ancestry in Hispanics in northern Arizona: an investigation of insulin in endothelial function and blood pressure regulation: The purpose of this study is to examine insulin and glucose status among individuals and relate this to endothelial function and blood pressure responses during a variety of provocation tests.
The Effect of E-Cigarette Use on Residential PM2.5 Concentration, Inflammatory Markers, and Endothelial Function: The purpose of this study is to relate the amount of pollution in a residence, created by e-cigarette use, to vascular function.
Vasoconstrictor Reserve: The purpose of this project is to determine whether external stimuli such as a cold pressor test or mental arithmetic can increase blood pressure enough to improve orthostatic tolerance.
Blood Pressure Reactivity: The purpose of this project is to assess blood pressure responses to different laboratory tests (called blood pressure “reactivity”). We want to determine how the brain differently controls blood pressure during the aging process, as well as determine differences between women and men.
Student opportunities and past publications
Undergraduate student opportunities Accordion Closed
Undergraduate students must commit to working in the lab ~8-10 hours per week. This will include weekly lab meetings and a Journal Club. Undergraduate students will be enrolled in BIO 485 and will receive credit for working in the Laboratory. Most students will have a project to work on and will present at UGRADS or will have the opportunity to apply for a grant like the Hooper Undergraduate Research Award or NASA Internship program. Permission to enroll must be granted through an interview.
Please contact Dr. Jarvis to discuss potential opportunities.
Graduate student opportunities Accordion Closed
Please contact Dr. Jarvis to discuss potential opportunities.
Publications Accordion Closed
* Undergraduate student author
† Graduate student author
Jarvis, S. S. Coast, R. R. Traustadóttir, T., & †Brooks, A. (2020). Endothelium dependent vasodilation is not enhanced in healthy women with varying degrees of orthostatic intolerance. Journal of Kinesiology and Wellness, 9(1), 29-42.
Badrov, M. B. Park, S. Y. Yoo, J. K. Hieda, M. Okada, Y. Jarvis, S. S. Stickford, A. S. Stuart, S. A. Nelson, D. B., & Fu, Q. (2019). Role of corin in blood pressure regulation in normotensive and hypertensive pregnancy: a prospective study. Hypertension, 432-439.
*McClain SL, †Brooks AM, Jarvis SS. An acute bout of a controlled breathing frequency lowers sympathetic neural outflow but not blood pressure in healthy normotensive subjects. Int J Exerc Sci. 2017 Mar 1;10(2):188-196.
Okada Y, Jarvis SS, Best SA, Edwards JG, Hendrix JM, Adams-Huet B, Vongpatanasin W, Levine BD, Fu Q. Sympathetic neural and hemodynamic responses during cold pressor test in elderly blacks and whites. Hypertension. 2016 May; 67(5):951-8. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.06700
Jarvis SS, Okada Y, Levine BD, Fu Q. Central integration and neural control of blood pressure during the cold pressor test: a comparison between hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren. Physiol Rep. 2015 Sep 14;3(9), pii: e12502. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12502
Okada Y, Best SA, Jarvis SS, Shibata S, Parker RS, Casey BM, Levine BD, Fu Q. Asian women have attenuated sympathetic activation but enhanced renal-adrenal responses during pregnancy than Caucasian women. J Physiol. 2015 Mar 1;593(5):1159-68. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.282277
Jarvis SS, Shibata S, Bivens TB, Okada Y, Levine BD, Fu Q. Neural-humoral responses during head-up tilt in healthy young white and black women. Front Physiol. 2014 Mar 4; 5:86. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00086
Best S, Okada Y, Galbreath MM, Jarvis SS, Bivens TB, Adams-Huet B, Fu Q. Age and sex differences in muscle sympathetic nerve activity in relation to haemodynamics, blood volume and left ventricular size. Exp Physiol. 2014 Jun;99(6):839-48. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2013.077248
*Brooks AM and Jarvis SS. Hyper-hydration with a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution does not improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy young individuals. Journal for Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression Vol 1, 2014. https://www2.nau.edu/nabej-p/ojs/index.php/NAUUS/article/view/162
Carlsten C, Oron AP, Curtiss H, Jarvis S, Daniell W, Kaufman JD. Symptoms in response to controlled diesel exhaust more closely reflect exposure perception than true exposure. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 16;8(12):e83573. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083573
Okada Y, Jarvis SS, Best SA, Bivens TB, Adams-Huet B, Levine BD, Fu Q. Chronic renin inhibition lowers blood pressure and reduces upright muscle sympathetic nerve activity in hypertensive seniors. J Physiol. 2013 Dec 1;591(23):5913-22. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.261362
Okada Y, Galbreath MM, Shibata S, Jarvis SS, Bivens TB, Vongpatanasin W, Levine BD, Fu Q. Morning blood pressure surge is associated with arterial stiffness and sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity in hypertensive seniors. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013 Sep 15;305:H793-H802. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00254.2013
Okada Y, Galbreath MM, Jarvis SS, Bivens TB, Vongpatanasin W, Levine BD, Fu Q. Response to creatine kinase and pressor response to orthostatic tolerance. Hypertension. 2013 Feb;61(2):e25. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.00713
Okada Y, Galbreath MM, Jarvis SS, Bivens TB, Vongpatanasin W, Levine BD, Fu Q. Elderly blacks have a blunted sympathetic neural responsiveness but greater pressor response to orthostasis than elderly whites. Hypertension. 2012 Sep;60(3):842-848. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.195313
Jarvis SS, Shibata S, Bivens TB, Okada Y, Casey BM, Levine BD, Fu Q. Sympathetic activation during early pregnancy in humans. J Physiol. 2012 Aug 1;590(15):3535-3543. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.228262
Jarvis SS, Florian JP, Curren MJ, Pawelczyk JA. A somatostatin analog improves tilt table tolerance by decreasing splanchnic vascular conductance. J Appl Physiol. 2012 May;112(9): 1504-11. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01475.2010
Okada Y, Galbreath MM, Shibata S, Jarvis SS, VanGundy TB, Meier RL, Vongpatanasin W, Levine BD, Fu Q. Relationship between sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity and arterial stiffness in elderly men and women. Hypertension. 2012 Jan;59(1): 98-104. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.176560
Jarvis SS, VanGundy TB, Galbreath MM, Shibata S, Okazaki K, Reelick MF, Levine BD, Fu Q. Sex differences in the modulation of vasomotor sympathetic outflow during static handgrip exercise in healthy young humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011 Jul;301(1):R193-200. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00562.2010
Jarvis SS and Pawelczyk JA. The location of the volume indifferent point predicts orthostatic tolerance. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010 May;109(2):331-41. doi: 10.1007/s00421-009-1336-7
Jarvis SS, Florian JP, Curren MJ, Pawelczyk JA. Sex differences in vasoconstrictor reserve during 70° head-up tilt. Exp Physiol. 2010 Jan;95(1):184-93. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2009.048819
Jarvis SS and Pawelczyk JA. Identification of the human electrical impedance indifferent point: a surrogate for the volume indifferent point? Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Nov;107(4):473-80. doi: 10.1007/s00421-009-1148-9
Jarvis SS, Levine BD, Prisk GK, Shykoff BE, Elliott A, Rosow E, Blomqvist CG, Pawelczyk JA. Simultaneous determination of the accuracy and precision of closed-circuit cardiac output rebreathing techniques. J Appl Physiol. 2007 Sep;103(3): 864-74.
Parker BA, Smithmyer SL, Jarvis SS, Ridout SJ, Pawelczyk JA, Proctor DN. Evidence for reduced sympatholysis in the leg resistance vasculature of healthy older women. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007 Feb;292(2):H1148-H1156.