Kristine Urschel, Ph. D.

Asistant Professor
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Kentucky
612 W.P. Garrigus Building
Lexington, KY 40546-0215
Phone:  (859) 257-7748
FAX:  (859) 257-2534
E-mail: klurschel@uky.edu

Professional Appointments

Assistant Professor, Equine Science
University of Kentucky, Department of Animal and Food Science
August 1, 2008 - Current
60% research, 40% teaching
Studying protein and amino acid requirements and metabolism in horses of all ages and physiological states.  Determining the factors that regulate muscle protein synthesis and how these factors change during the aging process.

Education

Post-doctoral Fellowship
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
April 2007 - July 2008
Dr. Raymond Geor and Dr. Jeffery Escobar
Development of isotopic techniques to study protein and amino acid metabolism and requirements in horses.  These newly developed techniques will then be applied in order to study the effects of aging on amino acid requirements, metabolism and muscle protein synthesis in young adult and geriatric horses.

Doctor of Philosophy degree
University of Alberta
September 2002- June 2007
Thesis Title: Arginine synthesis and metabolism in neonatal piglets

Bachelor's degree
University of Alberta
September 1998- April 2002
Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture (major in Animal Science) with distinction
*Convocated with the Dean's medal in Agriculture awarded to the top student graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics

Classes Teaching

• GEN 100: Issues in Agriculture and Natural Resources (Fall 2009)
• ASC 325: Animal Physiology (Fall 2009)

Publications, Presentations and Other Scientific Activities

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

Urschel KL, Rafii M, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  A multi-tracer stable isotope quantification of the effects of arginine intake on whole-body arginine metabolism in neonatal piglets.  Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 293(3): E811-E818, 2007.

Ball, RO, Urschel KL and Pencharz PB.  Nutritional consequences of interspecies differences in arginine and lysine metabolism.  J Nutr 137(6): 1626S-1641S, 2007.

Urschel KL, Evans AR, Wilkinson CW, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Parenterally-fed neonatal piglets have a low rate of endogenous arginine synthesis from circulating proline.  J Nutr, 137(3): 601-606, 2007.

Urschel KL, Wilkinson CW, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Co-administration of ornithine and a-ketoglutarate is no more effective than ornithine alone as an arginine precursor in piglets enterally-fed an arginine-deficient diet.  J Nutr, 137(1): 55-62, 2007.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Uwiera RRE, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Citrulline is an effective arginine precursor in enterally-fed neonatal piglets.  J Nutr, 136(7):1806-1813, 2006.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Pencharz PB and Ball RO. Arginine synthesis does not occur during first-pass hepatic metabolism in the neonatal piglet.  Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 288(6): 1244-1251, 2005.

Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings Papers

Urschel KL, Rafii M, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  A multi-isotope approach to studying arginine metabolism in neonatal piglets.  2nd International Symposium on Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition, Vichy, France, September 9 –13, 2007.  Energy and protein metabolism and nutrition.  EAAP publication number 124: 243-244, 2007.

Urschel KL, Evans AR, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Infusion of Glucagon-like peptide 2 with an arginine deficient diet increases endogenous arginine synthesis in parenterally-fed neonatal piglets.  Livestock Sci, 108(1-3): 41-44, 2007.  (From the 10th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs, Denmark 2006)

Urschel KL, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Ornithine metabolism, but not arginine synthesis, is affected by the addition of ornithine to an arginine-deficient diet in enterally-fed piglets.  Livestock Sci, 108(1-3): 137-141, 2007.  (From the 10th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs, Denmark 2006)

Peer-Reviewed Abstracts

Urschel KL, Evans AR, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Infusion of Glucagon-like peptide 2 with an arginine deficient diet increases endogenous arginine synthesis in parenterally-fed neonatal piglets.  Digestive Physiology in Pigs, Vejle Denmark, May 25-27, 2006.  10th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs, Book of Abstracts: p.16, abstract #2.17.

Urschel KL, Evans AR, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Urschel KL, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Ornithine metabolism, but not arginine synthesis, is affected by the addition of ornithine to an arginine-deficient diet in enterally-fed piglets.  Digestive Physiology in Pigs, Vejle Denmark, May 25-27, 2006.  10th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs, Book of Abstracts:p.82, abstract #4.03.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Bertolo RFP, Brunton JA, Wilkinson DL, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  The role of first-pass splanchnic metabolism in endogenous arginine synthesis in the neonatal piglet.  26th Congress of ESPEN, Lisbon, Portugal, September 11-14, 2004.  Clin Nutr 23(4): 819.

Non-Peer Reviewed Abstracts

Urschel KL, Escobar J, McCutcheon LJ and Geor RJ. Effect of circulating insulin concentration on whole body and muscle protein metabolism in mature thoroughbred mares. Experimental Biology 2009, New Orleans LA, April 18 - 22, 2009. FASEB J. 23:Abstract #905.2

Urschel KL, Rafii M, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Whole-body nitric oxide synthesis is reduced in enterally-fed neonatal piglets receiving an arginine-deficient diet.  Experimental Biology 2007, Washington DC, April 28 - May 2, 2007.  FASEB J 21(6): Abstract # 354.1.

Pendlebury CD, Urschel KL, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Proline, in a commercial total parenteral nutrition solution, is inadequate in meeting the metabolic requirements of the parenterally-fed neonatal piglet.  Experimental Biology 2007, Washington DC, April 28 –May 2, 2007.  FASEB J 21(6): Abstract # 540.2.

Urschel KL, Rafii M, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  The importance of proline as a precursor for arginine in piglets.  Banff Pork Seminar, Banff AB, January 16 –19, 2007.  Advances in Pork Production, 18: Abstract #15.

Pendlebury CD, Urschel KL, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Proline may be an indispensable amino acid in piglets experiencing gut atrophy.  Banff Pork Seminar, Banff AB, January 16 –19, 2007.  Advances in Pork Production, 18: Abstract #14.

Urschel KL, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  GLP-2 infusion increases endogenous arginine synthesis in parenterally-fed piglets receiving an arginine deficient diet.  Experimental Biology 2006, San Francisco CA, April 1-5, 2006.  FASEB J 20(4): A424.

Urschel KL, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Intestinal atrophy decreases arginine synthesis in neonatal piglets.  Banff Pork Seminar, Banff AB, January 17-20, 2006.  Advances in Pork Production, 17: Abstract #16.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Uwiera R, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Citrulline synthesis limits whole-body arginine synthesis in piglets fed an arginine deficient diet.  ASAS/ADSA/CSAS Joint Annual Meeting 2005, Cincinnati OH, July 24-28, 2005.  J Anim Sci 83(Supp. 1) (J Dairy Sci 88 (Supp. 1)):206.

Shoveller AK, Urschel KL, Uwiera R, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Addition of citrulline to an arginine deficient diet improves whole-body arginine status as effectively as supplemental arginine in neonatal piglets.  CFBS 48th Annual Meeting Program and Proceedings, Guelph ON, June 21- 24, 2005.  Abstract T32, p 97.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Uwiera R, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Citrulline, but not proline or ornithine, is an effective precursor for arginine in enterally-fed neonatal piglets.  Experimental Biology 2005, San Diego CA, April 2-6, 2005.  FASEB J, 19(5): A976.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Uwiera R, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Citrulline is an effective precursor for arginine in the neonatal piglet. Banff Pork Seminar, Banff AB, January 18-21, 2005.  Advances in Pork Production, 16: Abstract #5.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Pencharz PB and Ball RO. Arginine synthesis does not occur during first-pass hepatic metabolism in piglets.  Proceedings of The Science of Changing Climates: Impact on Agriculture, Forestry and Wetlands, Canadian Society of Animal Science annual meeting, Edmonton AB, July 20-23, 2004.  Abstract # GSO05.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  First-pass hepatic metabolism does not contribute to whole-body arginine synthesis in the neonatal piglet. Experimental Biology 2004, Washington DC, April 17-21, 2004.  FASEB J, 18(4), Suppl., March 23, 2004: A545.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  Arginine is not synthesized during first-pass liver metabolism in the newborn piglet.  Banff Pork Seminar, Banff AB, January 20-23, 2004.  Advances in Pork Production, 15: Abstract #10.

Urschel KL, Shoveller AK, Pencharz PB and Ball RO.  N-acetylcysteine is an available precursor of cysteine for protein synthesis in piglets receiving total parenteral nutrition.  Experimental Biology 2003, San Diego CA, April 11-15, 2003.  FASEB J, 17(4), Suppl., March 14, 2003: A736.

Scientific Conference Presentations

September 10, 2007: A multi-isotope approach to studying arginine metabolism in neonatal piglets.  2nd International Symposium on Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition; Vichy, France.

May 2, 2007: Whole-body nitric oxide synthesis is reduced in enterally-fed neonatal piglets receiving an arginine-deficient diet.  Experimental Biology 2007; Washington DC, United States.

April 28, 2007: Whole-body nitric oxide synthesis is reduced in enterally-fed neonatal piglets receiving an arginine-deficient diet.  Procter and Gamble Graduate Student Competition, Experimental Biology 2007; Washington DC, United States.

January 17, 2007: The importance of proline as a precursor for arginine in piglets. Banff Pork Seminar 2007; Banff, Canada.

May 27, 2006: Infusion of Glucagon-like peptide 2 with an arginine-deficient diet increases endogenous arginine synthesis in parenterally-fed neonatal piglets. 10th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs; Veije, Denmark.

April 2, 2006: Intestinal GLP-2 infusion increases endogenous arginine synthesis in parenterally-fed piglets receiving an arginine deficient diet. Experimental Biology 2006; San Francisco, United States.

April 1, 2006: Intestinal GLP-2 infusion increases endogenous arginine synthesis in parenterally-fed piglets receiving an arginine deficient diet. Procter and Gamble Graduate Student Competition, Experimental Biology 2006; San Francisco, United States.

January 18, 2006: Intestinal atrophy decreases arginine synthesis in neonatal piglets. Banff Pork Seminar 2006; Banff, Canada.

July 26, 2005:  Citrulline synthesis limits whole-body arginine synthesis in piglets fed an arginine deficient diet.  CSAS graduate student competition, ASAS/ADSA/CSAS Joint Annual Meeting 2005; Cincinnati, United States.

April 4, 2005: Citrulline, but not proline or ornithine, is an effective precursor for arginine in enterally-fed neonatal piglets. Experimental Biology 2005; San Diego, United States.

July 22, 2004: Arginine synthesis does not occur during first-pass hepatic metabolism in piglets.  CSAS graduate student competition, Canadian Society of Animal Science annual meeting 2004; Edmonton, Canada.

Scholarships and Awards

Research and Other Academic Awards

Name of Scholarship	Year
American Society of Nutrition Procter and Gamble Graduate Student Oral Competition Winner	2007
American Society of Nutrition- Experimental Animal Nutrition Research Interest Section Poster Competition Winner	2007
American Society of Nutrition- Energy and Macronutrient Metabolism Research Interest Section Abstract Competition Winner	2007
American Society of Nutrition Abstract Competition	2007
Banff Pork Seminar Graduate Student Competition- winner	2007
AFNS Graduate Student Travel Award	2006
Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Travel Award	2006
American Society of Nutrition (ASN) Abstract Competition; also selected as 1 of 12 finalists in the ASN Procter and Gamble Graduate Student oral competition	2006
Canadian Society of Animal Science, Graduate Student Oral Presentation, First Place	2005
Dean's Medal in Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics	N/A

Research Skills and Training

Research Skills

• spectrophotometric assays for plasma metabolites
• HPLC analysis for plasma and tissue amino acid concentrations and hydrolysate samples
• radioisotope and stable isotope analysis and kinetics calculations
• Western blot procedures
• ELISA procedures, RT-PCR procedures
• aseptic technique
• jugular, femoral, cephalic and umbilical vein catheterization
• placement of gastric catheters; various suturing techniques
• necropsy procedures
• preparation of sterile elemental diets
• primed constant isotope infusions
• indicator amino acid oxidation studies
• breath sampling procedures in horses
• frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests
• hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp procedures.