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Minghong Ma, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Dept of Neuroscience
110 Johnson Pavilion
Tel: (215) 746-2790
Fax: 215-573-9050
Email: minghong@mail.med.upenn.edu

Click here for selected publications since Dr. Ma's arrival at Penn

RESEARCH INTERESTS

RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

Patch clamp, Optical imaging, in situ hybridization, Immunohistochemistry, Neurotracing, Genechip (cDNA microarray), and gene targeting.

RESEARCH SUMMARY

The mammalian olfactory system has the amazing capability of detecting and discriminating myriad odors, which relies on the large number (~1000 in rodents) of odorant receptors expressed in the sensory neurons located in the olfactory epithelium. Each sensory neuron expresses only one type odorant receptor, and all neurons with the same receptor typically converge onto two glomeruli in the olfactory bulb, the first relay center in the brain for processing odor information. By combining patch clamp, optical imaging, molecular and genetic approaches, we are investigating how the olfactory sensory neurons with defined odorant receptors encode different odors in the environment and how olfactory experiences modify the sensitivity and organization of the system. We recently discovered that the olfactory sensory neurons serve dual functions as odor detectors and mechanical sensors. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the mechanosensitivity of these neurons and the integration of the odor and airflow information by the olfactory system.

KEY WORDS: Olfactory Receptors; Signal Transduction; Information Coding

Lab Members From Left:
Huikai Tian,  Xavier Grosmaitre,  Minghong Ma,  Lindsey Santarelli (currently works at Merck), and  Anderson Lee