UCDavis University of California

Education

• Ph.D., University of Southern California

Research Interests

The primary focus of Dr. McDonald´s research program is on mechanisms of cellular aging and the interaction between nutrition and aging. Current topics of investigation include:

1. Evaluation of the rates of aging from gradual aging to rapid senescence
2. Cellular proliferation of brown adipose tissue isolated from aging rodents
3. Alterations in circadian rhythms of food intake and body temperature during senescence
4. The interaction among dietary restriction, dietary carbohydrates and lifespan
5. Hypothalamic dysregulation and alterations in the control of food intake during aging

Dr. McDonald's research uses primarily rodents as models for human aging. Research methods include cell culture, in vitro and in vivo analysis of cell proliferation, food intake analysis, analysis of circadian rhythm and extensive use of computers for data collection, systems modeling and statistical analysis.

Dr. McDonald is a member of the Graduate Group in Nutrition and the Physiology Graduate Group.

Dr. McDonald is the instructor of Biological Sciences 15 and Nutrition 111AV.

Dr. McDonald is on the board of directors for the Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund.

Publications

• McDonald, R.B., J.S. Stern and B.A. Horwitz. Cold-induced metabolism and brown fat GDP binding of young and old rats. Experimental Gerontology 1988;22:409-420.
• McDonald, R., S. Wickler, B.A. Horwitz and J.S. Stern. Meal induced thermogenesis following exercise training in the rat. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 1988;20:44-49.
• McDonald, R.B. and C.L. Keen. Iron, zinc and magnesium nutrition and athletic performance. Sports Medicine 1988;5:171-184.
• McDonald, R.B., B.A. Horwitz and J.S. Stern. Cold- and norepinephrine-induced thermogenesis in younger and older Fischer 344 rats. American Journal of Physiology 1988;254:R457-R462.
• McDonald, R.B., B.A. Horwitz and J.S. Stern. Cold-induced thermogenesis in younger and older Fischer 344 rats following exercise training. American Journal of Physiology 1988;254:R908-R916.
• McDonald, R.B. Letter to the Editor. Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences 1988;43:385-386.
• McDonald, R.B., J.S. Stern and B.A. Horwitz. Thermogenic responses of younger and older rats to cold exposure: comparison of two strains. Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences 1989;44:B37-B42.
• McDonald, R.B., J.S. Hamilton, J.S. Stern and B.A. Horwitz. Regional blood flow of exercise-trained younger and older cold-exposed rats. American Journal of Physiology 1989;256:R1069-R1075.
• McDonald, R.B. and C.L. Keen. Iron, zinc, and magnesium nutrition and athletic performance. In: Performance Enhancement in Sport, J. Shanahna (ed.), Adis Press Limited, Langhorn, PA. 1989, pp. 47-50 (Reprint of Pub. 9.).
• McDonald, R.B., C. Day, K. Carlson, J.S. Stern and B.A. Horwitz. Effect of age and gender on thermoregulation. American Journal of Physiology 1989;257:R700-704.
• McDonald, R. B., K. Carlson, C. Day, J.S. Stern and B.A. Horwitz. Effect of gender on the response to a high fat diet in aging Fischer 344 rats. Journal of Nutrition 1989;119:1472-1477.
• Horwitz, B.A., R.B. McDonald and J.S. Stern. Thermoregulation in older mammals: Altered thermogenesis during cold exposure. Journal of Biometeorology 1989;7:43-51.
• Ellis, J.R., R.B. McDonald and J.S. Stern. A diet high in fat stimulates adipocyte proliferation in older (22 month) rats. Experimental Gerontology 1990;25:141-148.
• McDonald, R.B. Effect of age and diet on glucose tolerance in Sprague-Dawley rats. Journal of Nutrition 1990;120:598-601.
• Gerardo-Gettens, T., G. D. Miller, B. A. Horwitz, R.B. McDonald, K.D. Brownell, M. R.C. Greenwood, J. Rodin and J.S. Stern. Exercise decreases fat selection in female rats during weight cycling. American Journal of Physiology 1991;260:R518-R524.
• Curry, D.L. and R.B. McDonald. Neural regulation of glucosestimulated insulin secretion in younger and older Fischer 344 rats. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1991;197:158-164.
• Eiffert, K.C., R.B. McDonald and J.S. Stern. High sucrose diet, exercise training, and insulin receptor function of 12- and 24-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Journal of Nutrition 1991;121:1081-1089.
• Newman, V., W. Norcross and R.B. McDonald. Nutrient intake of low income Southeast Asian pregnant women. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1991;91:793-799.
• Larkin, L.M., B.A. Horwitz and R.B. McDonald. Effect of cold on serum substrate and glycogen concentration in young and old Fischer 344 rats. Experimental Gerontology 1992;27:179-190.
• Ruhe, R.C., D.L. Curry, S. Herrmann, and R.B. McDonald. Age and gender effects on insulin secretion and glucose sensitivity of the endocrine pancreas. American Journal of Physiology 1992;262:R179-190.
• Romero-Gwynn, E., D. Gwynn, B. Turner, G. Stanford, E. West, E. Williamson, L. Grivetti, and R.B. McDonald. Dietary acculturation among Latinos of Mexican descent in California. California Agriculture 1992;46: 10-12.
• Stevens, D.A., L.E. Grivetti and R.B. McDonald. Nutrient intake of urban and rural elderly receiving home-delivered meals. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1992;92:714-718.
• McDonald, R.B., S. Herrmann and D.L. Curry. Norepinephrine sensitivity of the endocrine pancreas in aging F344 rats. Aging: Clinical and Experimental Research 1992;4: 227-230.
• Hara, S.L., R.C. Ruhe, D.L. Curry and R.B. McDonald. Dietary sucrose and insulin secretion of aging Fischer 344 rats. Journal of Nutrition 1992;122:2196-2203.
• Ruhe, R.C. and R.B. McDonald. Aging, insulin secretion and cellular senescence. In: R.R. Watson (eds). Handbook of Nutrition in the Aged, second edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 73 -98.
• Romero-Gwynn, E., D. Gwynn, L. Grivetti, R.B. McDonald, G. Stanford, B. Turner, E. West and E. Williamson.. Dietary acculturation among Latinos of Mexican descent. Nutrition Today. July/August 1993: 6-12.
• Eiffert, K.C., J.S. Stern, B.A. Horwitz, L.M. Larkin and R.B. McDonald. Effect of age and high sucrose diet on 2-deoxyglucose uptake in perfused hindlimb. Journal of Gerontology 1993;48:B206-212.
• McDonald, R.B., J.S. Hamilton and B.A. Horwitz. Influence of age and gender on brown adipose tissue norepinephrine turnover. Proceedings of the Society For Experimental Biology and Medicine. 1993;204:117-202.
• Ruhe, R.C., D.L. Curry and R.B. McDonald. Stimulus secretion coupling and insulin secretion in aging: evaluation of glucose oxidation and ATP-sensitive potassium channel responsiveness. Mechanisms of Aging and Development. 1993;71:161-167.
• Larkin, L.M., B.A. Horwitz, K.C. Eiffert and R.B. McDonald. Adrenergic stimulated skeletal muscle glycogenolysis in perfused hindlimbs of young and old male Fischer 344 rats. American Journal of Physiology 1994;266: R749-R755.
• McDonald, R.B., C.M. Murtagh and B.A. Horwitz. Age and gender effects on glucose utilization in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue of cold-exposed rats. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 1994;207: 102-109.
• Reiser, K.M., C. McGee, R. Rucker and R.B. McDonald. Effects of aging and caloric restriction on extracellular matrix biosynthesis in a model of injury repair in rats. Journal of Gerontology 1994;50A:B40-B47.
• 1995 Gabaldon, A.M., M.L. Florez-Duquet, R.B., McDonald and B.A. Horwitz. Effects of age and gender on brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle metabolic responses to cold in F344 Rats. American Journal of Physiology 1995;268:R93-R941.
• Murtagh, C.M., K.M. Reiser, R. Harris and R.B. McDonald. Source of dietary carbohydrate affects life span of Fischer 344 rats independent of caloric restriction. Journal of Gerontology 1995;50A: B148-B154.
• McDonald, R.B. Influence of dietary sucrose on biological aging. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1995;62(Suppl):84S-293S.
• McDonald, R.B. Sugars and blood glucose control [Commentary]. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1995;62(Suppl):221S-223S.
• McDonald, R.B. Effect of sugar on behavior and mental performance [Commentary]. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1995;62(Suppl):247S-259S.
• McDonald, R.B. Dietary sugars and lipid metabolism in humans [Commentary]. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1995;62(Suppl):262S-263S.
• Coordt, M., R.C. Ruhe and R.B. McDonald. Aging and insulin secretion. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1995;209:213-222.
• Wineinger, M.A., R.B. Sharman, T.R. Stevenson, R.C. Carlsen, and R.B. McDonald. Peripheral nerve and muscle function in the aging Fischer 344/Brown-Norway rat. Growth, Development and Aging 1995;59:107-119.
• Neyman, M.R., S. Zidenberg-Cherr and R.B. McDonald. Effect of participation in congregate site meal programs on the nutritional status of the healthy elderly. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1996;96: 475-483.
• Reiser, K.M., P. Summers, J.F. Medrano, R. Rucker, J. Last and R. McDonald. The effects of elevated circulating IGF-1 on the extracellular matrix in "high growth" C57BL/6J mice. American Journal of Physiology 1996;271:R696-R703.
• McDonald, R.B., M. Florez-Duquet, C. Murtagh-Mark and B.A. Horwitz. Relationship between cold-induced thermoregulation and spontaneous rapid body weight loss of aging Fischer 344 rats. American Journal of Physiology 1996;271:R1115-R1122.
• Ruhe, R.C., Coordt, M.C., and R.B. McDonald. Effects of caloric restrictions and source of dietary carbohydrate on glycemic status of the Fischer 344 rat. Aging: Clinical and Experimental Research 1996;8:287-291.
• Grivetti, L.E., E.A. Applegate, P.M. Clarkson, A.C. Grandjean, R.B. McDonald, and C.M. Tipton. From ancient Olympia to modern Atlanta: celebration of the Olympic Centennial. Nutrition Today 1996;31:241-249.
• Ruhe, R.C., D. L. Curry and R. B. McDonald. Altered cellular heterogeneity as a possible mechanism for the maintenance of organ function in senescent animals. Journal of Gerontology: Biology Sciences 1997;52A:B53-B58.
• McDonald RB. Some considerations for the development of diets for mature rodents used in long-term investigations. Journal of Nutrition 1997;127:847S-850S.
• Applegate, E.A., P.M. Clarkson, A.C. Grandjean, L.E. Grivetti, R.B. McDonald and C.M. Tipton. Introduction to the symposium. Journal of Nutrition 1997;127(Suppl 5):8575-8595.
• Applegate, E.A., B. Baumgartner, P.M. Clarkson, L.E. Grivetti, N. Haislett, R.B. McDonald, B. Mills and A. Oerter. Gold medal roundtable: athlete presentations, audience questions, and summary statements. Journal of Nutrition 1997;127(Suppl 5):886S-892S.
• Florez-Duquet, M., B.A. Horwitz and R.B. McDonald. Cellular proliferation and uncoupling protein content in brown adipose tissue of cold exposed aging Fischer 344 rats. American Journal of Physiology 1998;274: R196-R203.
• Roberts, S.B. and R. McDonald. The evolution of a new research filed: metabolic programming by early nutrition. Journal of Nutrition 1998;128: 400S-400S.
• Florez-Duquet, M., & McDonald, R. B. Cold-induced thermoregulation and biological aging. Physiol Rev 1998; 78: 339-358.
• Roberts, S.A. and R.B. McDonald. Introduction: Symposium on the effects of infant nutrition on adult disease. Journal of Nutrition. In Press.
• Gabaldon, A. M., McDonald, R. B., & Horwitz, B. A. Effects of age, gender, and senescence on beta-adrenergic responses of isolated F344 rat brown adipocytes in vitro. Am J Physiol 1998; 274: E726-736.
• Blanton, C. A., Horwitz, B. A., Murtagh-Mark, C., Gietzen, D. W., Griffey, S. M., & McDonald, R. B. Meal patterns associated with the age-related decline in food intake in the Fischer 344 rat. Am J Physiol 1998; 275: R1494-1502.
• Neyman, M. R., Block, G., Johns, M., Sutherlin, J. M., McDonald, R. B., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. Effect of participation in congregate-site meal programs on the energy and nutrient intakes of Hispanic seniors. J Am Diet Assoc 1998; 98: 1460-1462.
• Blanton, C. A., Horwitz, B. A., & McDonald, R. B. Neurochemical alterations during age-related anorexia. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1999; 221: 153-165.
• McDonald, R. B., Hoban-Higgins, T. M., Ruhe, R. C., Fuller, C. A., & Horwitz, B. A. Alterations in endogenous circadian rhythm of core temperature in senescent Fischer 344 rats. Am J Physiol 1999; 276: R824-830.
• McDonald, R. B., & Horwitz, B. A. Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis during aging and senescence. J Bioenerg Biomembr 1999; 31: 507-516.
• Lingelbach, L. B., & McDonald, R. B. Description of the long-term lipogenic effects of dietary carbohydrates in male Fischer 344 rats. J Nutr 2000; 130: 3077-3084.
• Lingelbach, L. B., Mitchell, A. E., Rucker, R. B., & McDonald, R. B. Accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts in aging male Fischer 344 rats during long-term feeding of various dietary carbohydrates. J Nutr 2000; 130: 1247-1255.
• Blanton, C. A., Horwitz, B. A., Blevins, J. E., Hamilton, J. S., Hernandez, E. J., & McDonald, R. B. Reduced feeding response to neuropeptide Y in senescent Fischer 344 rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2001; 280: R1052-1060.
• Ruhe, R. C., & McDonald, R. B. Use of antioxidant nutrients in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. J Am Coll Nutr 2001; 20: 363S-369S; discussion 381S-383S.
• Horwitz, B. A., Blanton, C. A., & McDonald, R. B. PHYSIOLOGIC DETERMINANTS OF THE ANOREXIA OF AGING: Insights from Animal Studies. Annu Rev Nutr 2002; 22: 417-438.
• Gabaldon, A.M. D.A. Gavel, J.S. Hamilton, R.B. McDonald, and B.A. Horwitz. Norepinephrine release in brown adipose tissue remains robust in cold-exposed senescent Fischer 344 rats. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 2003;285:R91-8
• McDonald, R.B. and R.C. Ruhe. The Progression from physiological aging to disease: The impact of nutrition: In: Bales, C.A and C.S Ritchie (eds), Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Aging, Human, 2003, 49-62.
• Coppola JD, Horwitz BA, Hamilton J, McDonald RB. Expression of NPY Y1 and Y5 receptors in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of aged Fischer 344 rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2004 Jul;287(1):R69-75. Epub 2004 Mar 25.