Teaching
My teaching is in the field of human physiology at the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry and Nutrition, as well as animal physiology at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences.
I have supervised or co-supervised several undergraduate and graduate students over the years.
 
Research
My research has centered around epithelia and endocrinology.  More specifically, the function of intestinal epithelium and kidney tubules of birds, and their control by aldosterone and other hormones.  I have also studied hormones of metabolism and stress and hormones of reproduction.  Recently, my interest has turned to the pigment epithelium of the eye.   Presently, I’m working on the following projects in collaboration with several scientists:
·         Avian epithelia: Ion and nutrient transport in colon and kidney
·         Ptarmigan health in the field: Fecal metabolites of stress hormones
·         Uterine contractility after birth: The effectiveness of oxytocin and misoprostol
·         Function of the pigment epithelium:  Role in age-relataed macula degeneration
·         Sex steroids in cod:  Correlation with lunar and environmental cycles?
 
Research collaboration
Gary Laverty professor, Inst. of Biological Sciences, Univ Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Ólafur K. Nielsen, ecologist, Institute of Natural History
Þór Eysteinsson professor, Dept Physiology, Univ Iceland
Sveinbjörn Gizurarson professor, Dept Pharmacy, Univ Iceland
Jón Ólafur Skarphéðinsson prófessor, Dept. Physiology, Univ. Iceland
Guðrún Marteinsdóttir professor, Inst. Biology, Univ Iceland
 
Publications 2000-2012
2012      Gary Laverty, Ashley Anttilaa, Jenava Cartya, Varudhini Reddya, Jamie Yuma, Sighvatur S. Árnason.
CFTR mediated chloride secretion in the avian renal proximal tubule
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 161:53-60, 2012.  
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2011.09.005
 
2009      Klavs Holtug, Gary Laverty, Sighvatur S. Árnason, Erik Skadhauge.
NH4+ secretion in the avian colon. An actively regulated barrier to ammonium permeation of the colon mucosa.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 153:258–265, 2009.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.02.023
 
2006      Gary Laverty,Vibeke S. Elbrønd, Sighvatur S. Árnason, Erik Skadhauge.
Epithelial Structure and Function in the Hen LowerIntestine.
In: Avian Gut Function in Health and Disease, G. Perry (ed.), Chapter 5, pp. 65-84.
© CAB International 2006, ISBN-13 978-1-84593-1803.
 
2006      Gary Laverty, Vibeke S. Elbrønd, Sighvatur S. Árnason, Erik Skadhauge.
Endocrine regulation of ion transport in the avian lower intestine.
General and Comparative Endocrinology, 147(1):70-77, 2006.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2006.01.008
 
2003      Gary Laverty, Colleen McWilliams, Amanda Sheldon, and Sighvatur S. Arnason.
Parathyroid Hormone Stimulates a Chloride-Dependent and EIPA-Sensitive Current in Chick Proximal Tubule Cells in Culture.
American Journal of  Physiology, Renal Physiol, 284:F987-F995, 2003.  
 
2001      Gary Laverty, Sesselja Bjarnadóttir, Vibeke S. Elbrønd, and Sighvatur S. Árnason.
Aldosterone suppresses expression of an avian colonic codium-glucose cotransporter.
American Journal of  Physiology, Regulatory Integrative Comparative Physiology, 281(4):R1041-R1050, 2001  
 
2001      Olli Vakkuri, Sighvatur S. Árnason, Päivi Joensuu, Jorma Jalonen, Olli Vuolteenaho, Juhani Leppäluoto.
Radioiodinated tyrosyl-ouabain and measurement of a circulating ouabain-like compound.
Clinical Chemistry,  47(1):95-101, 2001.
 
2000      Olli Vakkuri, Sighvatur S. Árnason, Anneli Pouta, Olli Vuolteenaho, Juhani Leppäluoto.
Radioimmunoassay of plasma ouabain in healthy and pregnant individuals.
Journal of  Endocrinology,  165(3):669-677, 2000.
 

Publications: PubMed