Research interests
My lab is interested in understanding the neurobiological aspects of chemical sensory systems in the nose, specifically mechanisms of sensory detection and functional maintenance. We use transgenic and genetically modified animals and multiple experimental approaches, including intracellular calcium imaging, electrophysiological recordings, immunolabeling, molecular analyses, and behavioral assays in our study. We hope to provide knowledge about: 1) sensory detection of certain chemical substances, such as flavors and other constituents in electronic cigarettes; 2) modulatory networks that adaptively maintain olfactory functions; and 3) environmental exposure-induced sensory dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and associated behavioral deficits.
Teaching interests
BIOL 451/651: Neurobiology
BIOL 303: Cell Biology
BIOL 490/690: Chemical Communication and Brain Disorders
BIOL 305: Comparative Animal Physiology
BIOL 499 or 499H: Undergrad Research experience
BIOL 499L: Undergrad Lab Research
BIOL 396: Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship
Education
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Postdoc, Sensory Neurobiology
— University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2003) Advisor: Diego Restrepo, Ph.D
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Postdoc, Sensory Neurobiology
— Colorado State University (2000) Advisor: Sue C. Kinnamon, Ph.D
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Ph D, Anatomy and Neurobiology
— Colorado State University (1999) Advisor: Sue C. Kinnamon, Ph.D
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MS, Zoology
— Zhongshan University (1988) Advisor: Yiming Huang, Ph.D
- BS, Animal Physiology — Zhongshan University (1982)
Publications
- IntegraPose: A unified framework for simultaneous pose estimation and behavior classification 2025
- Chemosensory tobacco product toxicology part 1: sensory mechanisms. 2025
- Chemosensory tobacco product toxicology part 2: toxicological testing, assays, and state of the science 2025
- Modification of the Peripheral Olfactory System by Electronic Cigarettes. 2021
- Electronic Cigarette Liquid Constituents Induce Nasal and Tracheal Sensory Irritation in Mice in Regionally Dependent Fashion 2020
- What makes something smell good or bad? 2020
- TRPM5-expressing Microvillous Cells Regulate Region-specific Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis During Chemical Exposure 2020
- E-cig flavors may be more than alluring; they could cause damage themselves 2020
- Mice lacking transient receptor potential channel M5-expressing microvillous cells show different changes in the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in the main olfactory system in response to chemical exposure 2018
- ATP and odor mixture activate TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells and potentially induce acetylcholine release to enhance supporting cell endocytosis in mouse main olfactory epithelium 2018
- Lack of TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells in mouse main olfactory epithelium leads to impaired odor-evoked responses and olfactory-guided behavior in a challenged chemical environment 2017
- Activity Dependent Modulation of Granule Cell Survival in the Accessory Olfactory Bulb at Puberty 2017
- Dichotomous Distribution of Putative Cholinergic Interneurons in Mouse Accessory Olfactory Bulb 2017
- TRP Channels in Transduction for Responses to Odorants and Pheromones 2015
- Increases in intracellular calcium via activation of potentially multiple phospholipase C isozymes in mouse olfactory neurons 2014
- Skn-1a/Pou2f3 is required for the generation of Trpm5-expressing microvillous cells in the mouse main olfactory epithelium 2014
- An effective manual deboning method to prepare intact mouse nasal tissue with preserved anatomical organization 2013
- Expression profile of G-protein βγ subunit gene transcripts in the mouse olfactory sensory epithelia 2013
- Automated measurement of nerve fiber density using line intensity scan analysis 2012
- Diverse populations of intrinsic cholinergic interneurons in the mouse olfactory bulb 2012
- Cholinergic microvillous cells in the mouse main olfactory epithelium and effect of acetylcholine on olfactory sensory neurons and supporting cells 2011
- Accessory olfactory bulb function is modulated by input from the main olfactory epithelium 2010
- Chemoreception regulates chemical access to mouse vomeronasal organ: Role of solitary chemosensory cells 2010
- TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells in the main olfactory epithelium 2008
- TRPM5-expressing solitary chemosensory cells respond to odorous irritants 2008
- Immuno-localization of Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter in Mouse Taste Cells and Adjacent Nerve Fibers: Indication of Acetylcholine Release 2007
- Olfactory neurons expressing transient receptor potential channel M5 (TRPM5) are involved in sensing semiochemicals 2007
- Odortypes and MHC peptides: Complementary chemosignals of MHC haplotype? 2006
- Emerging views on the distinct, but overlapping roles of the main and accessory olfactory systems in responsiveness to chemosensory signals in mice 2004
- Odors detected by mice deficient in cyclic nucleotide-gated channel subunit A2 stimulate the main olfactory system 2004
- Taste receptor cells express pH-sensitive leak K+ channels 2004
- Responses to di-sodium guanosine 5’-monophosphate and monosodium L-glutamate in taste receptor cells of rat fungiform papillae 2003
- Acid-activated cation currents in rat vallate taste receptor cells 2002
- Co-localization of epithelial sodium channels and glutamate receptors in single taste cells 1999
- Epithelial Na+ channel subunits in rat taste cells: Localization and regulation of aldosterone 1999
- Physiological evidence for ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors in rat taste cells 1999
- A basolateral chloride conductance in rat lingual epithelium 1998
- Responses to monosodium glutamate and guanosine 5’-monophosphate in rat fungiform taste cells 1998
- Development of membrane properties in taste cells of fungiform papillae: functional evidence for early presence of amiloride-sensitive sodium channels 1997
- Extraoral taste receptor
Courses Taught
- Pre Candidacy Doc Rsch (Research)
- Neurobiology
- Cell Biology