Anne Dorrance , PhD

she/her/hers

Patenge Endowed Professor, Chair, and IPSTP Program Director

Pharmacology & Toxicology

dorranc3@msu.edu

B440 Life Sciences

Biography

The brain is exquisitely sensitive to changes in blood flow because even small reductions in flow can cause neuronal injury. In the most extreme situation, when blood flow completely stops, a stroke occurs. Milder reductions in blood flow can result in the development of cognitive impairments that lead to dementia development. In the Dorrance lab, we study how cerebral arteries regulate blood flow and how conditions like obesity and hypertension impair this process. By doing this, we may identify treatments to slow or prevent the development of dementia and improve the outcome of a stroke.

Employment

Chairperson , Michigan State University, East Lansing, 2022 - Present

Publications

High-fat feeding has sex-dependent effects on the structure and biomechanical properties of cerebral parenchymal arterioles and cognitive function American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology (2025)

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in male rats results in sustained HPA activation and hyperinsulinemia American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism (2022)

Endothelial Cells and the Cerebral Circulation Comprehensive Physiology (2022)

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism improves transient receptor potential vanilloid 4-dependent dilation of cerebral parenchymal arterioles and cognition in a genetic model of hypertension Journal of Hypertension (2022)

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition improves cognitive function and parenchymal artery dilation in a hypertensive model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion Microcirculation (2021)

Activation of ventral tegmental area neurotensin Receptor-1 neurons promotes weight loss Neuropharmacology (2021)

Clopidogrel treatment inhibits P2Y₂-Mediated constriction in the rabbit middle cerebral artery European Journal of Pharmacology (2021)

Interleukin-6 drives key pathologic outcomes in experimental acetaminophen-induced liver failure bioRxiv (2021)

Regulation of ion channels in the microcirculation by mineralocorticoid receptor activation Current Topics in Membranes (2020)

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channels are important regulators of parenchymal arteriole dilation and cognitive function Microcirculation (2019)

Fundings

Vascular cognitive impairment in hypertension; identification of an age appropriate model.

Integrative Pharmacological Sciences Training Program (IPSTP)

Cerebral parenchymal arteriole dysfunction and cognitive decline in a life-long high fat feeding model

The Effect of Aldosterone on Cerebral Blood Vessels

Aldosterone in Acute Ischemic Stroke

The Effects of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Activation on Cerebral Vessels and Stroke

In the News

Patty Gregory (right) and Dr. Anne Dorrance

“Department Mom” Patty Gregory Earns University Award

Her expertise as department office manager involves nearly every aspect from arranging meetings, coordinating Dr. Anne Dorrance’s calendar, helping students feel at home, and ensuring everyone has what they need when needed. "Everybody needs somebody like her in their corner," Dr. Dorrance said.

Anne Dorrance

Mentor training allows mentors and mentees to discover what they do best

Times has changed and so has the responsibility of mentors in their relationships with mentees. Dr. Anne Dorrance has been a mentor trainer for 12 years and stresses a key point. "If we want to train new scientists who can inspire the generation that comes after them, we need to be better mentors.”

Dr. Anne Dorrance, Dr. Norbert Kaminski, and Dr. James Luyendyk,

Three PhmTox Faculty Honored with Chair Investitures

Drs. James Luyendyk, Anne Dorrance and Norbert Kaminski were among 49 honored at MSU's 2024 Investiture for Endowed Faculty

Drs. Lauver, Luyendyk, Dorrance and Fink

Four Pharmacology and Toxicology Professors Awarded Tetrad Research Funding

Drs. Lauver, Luyendyk, Dorrance and Fink have been awarded funding from the inaugural Tetrad Interdisciplinary fund program through the Office of Research and Innovation.