Robert C. Backus
Assistant Teaching Professor and Director of the Nestle-Purina Endowed Small Animal Nutrition Program

· DVM (Veterinary Medicine), University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
· MS, Physiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
· PhD, Physiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
· Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Nutrition

BackusR@missouri.edu

Research:

Mechanisms by which alimentary factors evoke secretion of gastrointestinal hormones. Influence of gastrointestinal factors on pancreatic endocrine and exocrine and exocrine function. Role
of intestinal microflora on taurine homeostatis. Control and function of lipoprotein lipase in adiposity and milk production. Nutritional problems of cats and other companion animals.

Research focus:

• Nutrition-related health problems of domestic cats and dogs
• Body fat mass regulation and obesity
• Taurine nutrition and metabolism

Selected publications:

Cave NJ, Backus RC, Marks SL, Klasing KC.  Oestradiol, but not genistein, inhibits the rise in food intake following gonadectomy in cats, but genistein is associated with an increase in lean body mass.  J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2007; 91(9-10):400-10. [Abstract]

Cave NJ, Backus RC, Marks SL, Klasing KC. The bioavailability and disposition kinetics of genistein in cats.  J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2007; 30(4):327-35.  [Abstract]

Cave NJ, Backus RC, Marks SL, Klasing KC.  Oestradiol and genistein reduce food intake in male and female overweight cats after gonadectomy. N Z Vet J 2007; 55(3): 113-19. [Abstract]

Backus RC, Cave NJ, Keisler DH.  Gonadectomy and high dietary fat but not high dietary carbohydrate induce gains in body weight and fat of domestic cats.  Br J Nutr, 2007; 98(3):641-50. [Abstract]

Cave NJ, Backus RC, Marks SL, Klasing KC.  Oestradiol and genistein reduce food intake in male and female overweight cats after gonadectomy.  N Z Vet J 2007; 55(3):113-19.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Kanchuk ML, Rogers QR.  Elevation of plasma cholecystokinin concentration following a meal is increased by gonadectomy in male cats.  J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2006; 90(3-4):152-58.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Ko KS, Fascetti AJ, Kittleson MD, Macdonald KA, Maggs DJ, Berg JR, Rogers QR. Low plasma taurine concentration in Newfoundland dogs is associated with low plasma methionine and cyst(e)ine concentrations and low taurine synthesis.  J Nutr 2006; 136(10):2525-33.  [Abstract]

Veltri BC, Backus RC, Rogers QR, Depeters EJ.  Adipose fatty acid composition and rate of incorporation of alpha-linolenic acid differ between normal and lipoprotein lipase-deficient cats. J Nutr 2006; 136(12):2980-86.  [Abstract]

Cave NJ, Backus RC, Marks SL, Klasing KC.  Modulation of innate and acquired immunity by an estrogenic dose of genistein in gonadectomized cats.  Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2007; 117(1-2):42-54.  [Abstract]

Ko KS, Backus RC, Berg JR, Lame MW, Rogers QR. Differences in taurine synthesis rate among dogs relate to differences in their maintenance energy requirement.  J Nutr 2007; 137(5):1171-75.  [Abstract]

Fascetti AJ, Reed JR, Rogers QR, Backus RC. Taurine deficiency in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy: 12 cases (1997-2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003; 223(8):1137-41.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Cohen G, Pion PD, Good KL, Rogers QR, Fascetti AJ. Taurine deficiency in Newfoundlands fed commercially available complete and balanced diets. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003; 223(8):1130-36. [Abstract]

Torres CL, Backus RC, Fascetti AJ, Rogers QR. Taurine status in normal dogs fed a commercial diet associated with taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2003; 87(9-10):359-72.  [Abstract]

Wedekind KJ, Howard KA, Backus RC, Yu S, Morris JG, Rogers QR. Determination of the selenium requirement in kittens. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2003; 87(9-10):315-23.  [Abstract]

Kanchuk ML, Backus RC, Calvert CC, Morris JG, Rogers QR. Weight gain in gonadectomized normal and lipoprotein lipase-deficient male domestic cats results from increased food intake and not decreased energy expenditure. J Nutr 2003; 133(6):1866-74.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Puryear LM, Crouse BA, Biourge VC, Rogers QR. Breath hydrogen concentrations of cats given commercial canned and extruded diets indicate gastrointestinal microbial activity vary with diet type. J Nutr 2002; 132(6 Suppl 2):1763S-66S.  [Abstract]

Elliott DA, Backus RC, Van Loan MD, Rogers QR. Extracellular water and total body water estimated by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis in healthy cats: a cross-validation study. J Nutr 2002; 132(6 Suppl 2):1760S-62S.  [Abstract]

Elliott DA, Backus RC, Van Loan MD, Rogers QR. Evaluation of multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis for the assessment of extracellular and total body water in healthy cats. J Nutr 2002; 132(6 Suppl 2):1757S-59S.  [Abstract]

Stratton-Phelps M, Backus RC, Rogers QR, Fascetti AJ. Dietary rice bran decreases plasma and whole-blood taurine in cats. J Nutr 2002; 132(6 Suppl 2):1745S-47S.  [Abstract]

Reginato CF, Backus RC, Rogers QR. Improved growth of lipoprotein lipase deficient kittens by feeding a low-fat, highly digestible diet small star, filled. J Nutr Biochem 2002; 13(3):149-56.  [Abstract]

Delaney SJ, Hill AS, Backus RC, Czarnecki-Maulden GL, Rogers QR. Dietary crude protein concentration does not affect the leucine requirement of growing dogs. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2000; 85(3-4):88-100.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Ginzinger DG, Ashbourne Excoffon KJ, Clee SM, Hayden MR, Eckel RH, Hickman MA, Rogers QR. Maternal expression of functional lipoprotein lipase and effects on body fat mass and body condition scores of mature cats with lipoprotein lipase deficiency. Am J Vet Res 2000; 62(2):264-69. [Abstract]

Backus RC, Havel PJ, Gingerich RL, Rogers QR. Relationship between serum leptin immunoreactivity and body fat mass as estimated by use of a novel gas-phase Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy deuterium dilution method in cats. Am J Vet Res 2000; 61(7):796-801.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Howard KA, Rogers QR, Morris JG. Leukocytosis and thrombocytosis caused by consumption of a low magnesium and high calcium diet elevates whole-blood taurine concentration in cats. J Nutr 1998; 128(12 Suppl):2581S-83S.  [Abstract]

De Fanti BA, Backus RC, Hamilton JS, Gietzen DW, Horwitz BA. Lean (Fa/Fa) but not obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats release cholecystokinin at PVN after a gavaged meal. Am J Physiol 1998; 275(1 Pt 1):E1-5.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Howard KA, Rogers QR. The potency of dietary amino acids in elevating plasma cholecystokinin immunoreactivity in cats is related to amino acid hydrophobicity. Regul Pept 1997; 26;72(1):31-40.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Rogers QR, Rosenquist GL, Calam J, Morris JG. Diets causing taurine depletion in cats substantially elevate postprandial plasma cholecystokinin concentration. J Nutr 1995; 125(10):2650-57.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Rosenquist GL, Rogers QR, Calam J, Morris JG. Elevation of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) immunoreactivity by fat, protein, and amino acids in the cat, a carnivore. Regul Pept 1995; 57(2):123-31.  [Abstract]

Backus RC, Rogers QR, Morris JG. Microbial degradation of taurine in fecal cultures from cats given commercial and purified diets. J Nutr 1994; 124(12 Suppl):2540S-45S.  [Abstract]

Morris JG, Rogers QR, Kim SW, Backus RC. Dietary taurine requirement of cats is determined by microbial degradation of taurine in the gut. Adv Exp Med Biol 1994; 359:59-70.  [Abstract]