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e-mail- zhpan@med.wayne.edu
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Education:
1982, B.S., University of Science & Technology of China
1984, M.S., Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Science
1990, Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo
Training:
1990-1991, Research Associate, State University of
New York at Buffalo
Professional and Faculty Appointments:
1991-1997, Instructor, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital
and Harvard Medical School
1998-1999, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham
& Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
1999-2003, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell
Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine
2003-present, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell
Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine
2007-present, Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell
Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine
Major Research Interests:
Visual information processing in the retina; development of therapeutic strategies
for the treatment of blinding retinal degeneration.
Current Research:
One focus of our lab is the study of visual information processing in the retina.
We are particularly interested in understanding the roles voltage-dependent membrane
channels and inhibitory neurotransmitter-gated receptors in visual processing in the
mammalian retina. Our recent studies indicate that there is a heterogeneous expression
of a number of voltage-dependent membrane channels, including calcium and sodium channels,
among different bipolar cell types. Our studies have also revealed the expression of multiple
inhibitory neurotransmitter-gated receptors at the axon terminals of bipolar cells. Current
ongoing studies are directed toward addressing the functional aspects of these membrane channels
and receptors in the regulation of synaptic transmission in bipolar cells. Another focus of the
lab is to explore a new strategy for the treatment of blinding retinal degeneration. We are
investigating the possibility of genetically converting inner retinal neurons to photosensitive
cells as a possible strategy for restoring light sensitivity to retinas lacking photoreceptors.
Our recent studies have demonstrated that long-term expression of a light sensitive channel,
channelrhodopsin-2, from green algae can be achieved in mammalian retinal neurons in vivo.
Our results also show that expression of channelrhodopsin-2 in surviving inner retinal neurons
of a photoreceptor-deficient mouse model can restore the ability of the retina to encode light
signals and transmit the light signals to the visual cortex. The long-term goal of this project
is aimed at developing therapeutic treatments to cure blindness caused by photoreceptor degeneration.
The techniques used in our studies include molecular biology, electrophysiological recordings,
immunocytochemistry, viral-based gene targeting, and animal behavior.
Selected publications:
| 1. | Bi A, Cui J, Ma Y-P, Olshevskaya E, Pu M, Dizhoor AM, Pan Z-H. Ectopic expression of a microbial-type rhodopsin restores visual responses in mice with photoreceptor degeneration. Neuron 2006;50:23-33. Medline |
| 2. | Ma Y-P, Cui J, Pan Z-H. Heterogeneous expression of voltage-dependent Na+ and K+ channels in mammalian retinal bipolar cells. Visual Neurosci 2005; 22:119-133. Medline |
| 3. | Cui J, Ma Y-P, Lipton SA, Pan Z-H. Glycine receptors and glycinergic synaptic input at the axon terminals of mammalian retinal rod bipolar cells. J Physiol 2003; Medline |
| 4. | Ma Y-P, Cui J, Hu H-J, Pan Z-H. Mammalian retinal bipolar cells express inwardly rectifying K+currents(IKir)with a different distribution than that of Ih. J Neurophysiol 2003; 90:3479-3489. Medline |
| 5. | Ma Y-P, Pan Z-H, Spontaneous regenerative activity in mammalian retinal bipolar cells: Roles of multiple subtypes of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Visual Neurosci 2003;20:131-139. Medline |
| 6. | Hu H-J, Pan Z-H. Differential expression of K+ currents in mammalian retinal bipolar cells. Visual Neurosci 2002;19:163-173. Medline |
| 7. | Pan Z-H, Hu H-J, Perring P, Andrade R. T-type Ca2+ channels mediate neurotransmitter release in retina bipolar cells. Neuron 2001;32:89-98. Medline |
| 8. | Pan Z-H. Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and GABA receptors revealed at presynaptic terminal of mammalian retinal bipolar cells. Visual Neurosci 2001;18:279-288. Medline |
| 9. | Pan Z-H, Hu H-J. Voltage-dependent Na+ currents in mammalian retinal cone bipolar cells. J Neurophysiol 2000;84:2564-2571. Medline |
| 10. | Pan Z-H. Differential expression of high- and two types of low-voltage-activated calcium currents in rod and cone bipolar cells of the rat retina. J Neurophysiol 2000;83:513-527. Medline |
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