Mei Shao, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology

Address The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences 2300 I Street NW, Ross Hall 213 Washington, DC 20037 Tel: 202-994-6029 Fax: 202-994-8885 Email: anamys@gwumc.edu

Background

M.D. (1995) Binzhou Medical College
M.S. (1998) Tongji Medical University
Ph.D. (2001) Shanghai Second Medical University
Research Scientist (2001-2007) George Washington University

Research Interests

During the last six years, I have been working on development and brain plasticity in the central vestibular system, collaborating with Dr. Kenna Peusner. Our model system is the chick tangential nucleus, a major vestibular nucleus in avians, which contains second-order neurons participating in the three-neuron vestibular reflexes. My experiments involve whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings in current- and voltage-clamp modes and pharmacological testing on brain slice preparation. I study normal development of inputs and outputs of vestibular nucleus neurons, focusing on postsynaptic excitatory and inhibitory currents, and spike firing pattern. Vestibular development is characterized by the gradual emergence of the mature firing pattern which permits these neurons to process signals essential for maintaining posture and balance. One of our hypothesis links development with recovery of function after lesions. We believe that during recovery of function after the unilateral peripheral vestibular lesion, vestibular nucleus neurons repeat certain aspects of their developmental schedule. After a unilateral peripheral vestibular lesion, the behavioral deficits which occur, including nystagmus, dizziness and postural problems, largely disappear in all vertebrate species, including humans, within about a week. This recovery process is called “vestibular compensation”. Since the peripheral vestibular receptors do not regenerate and vestibular nucleus must be intact for recovery, vestibular nucleus neurons must play crucial roles in vestibular compensation. Accordingly, my experiments are designed to elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying this recovery. I expect that changes in synaptic transmission and/or intrinsic membrane properties are important for vestibular compensation.

Selected Publications

Shao, M., Hirsch, J.C., and Peusner, K.D. 2006. Emergence of action potential generation and synaptic transmission in vestibular nucleus neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 96, 1215-1226. PDF

Shao, M., Hirsch, J.C., and Peusner, K.D. 2006. Maturation of firing pattern in chick vestibular nucleus neurons. Neuroscience 141, 711-726. PDF

Shao, M., Hirsch, J.C., Giaume, C., and Peusner, K.D. 2004. Spontaneous synaptic activity in chick vestibular nucleus neurons during the perinatal period. Neuroscience 127, 81-90. PDF

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