Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:
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Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical School, P. R. China
Master's degree in Medicine, 1999
Major: Human anatomy, histology, and embryology
Thesis: The Distribution of 5-HT, SOM, SP, L-ENK and AChE-like Neurons in the Vestibular Nuclei and Their Changes under GM Toxicity in Guinea Pigs. Advisor: Professor Haitao Hu, Professor Yong Liu, and Professor Huimin Ren
Major Advisor(s):
Research Description:
My research interests are synaptic plasticity and memory, and neurodegenerative diseases. I study synaptic plasticity under normal and pathological conditions such as dementia. Also, I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. My current research aims at understanding the roles of two molecules in synaptic plasticity under non-pathological conditions. These two molecules, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid ß peptide (Aß), have been shown to be critical for the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. To study short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity in transgenic and control mice, in vitro electrophysiological recordings from acute hippocampal slices are used.
Lab Rotations:
- Steve Mcloon
- Bill Engeland
- Linda Boland
- Karen Ashe
Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:
- Biostatistical Methods I
- Signal Transduction/Gene Expression
- Stat Analysis
- Intro to SAS Programming
- ESL Grad Research
Conferences Attended and Presentations:
- Society for Neuroscience annual meeting - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
(presented posters 2003 and 2004)
Committee Members:
- Bill Engeland (chair)
- Karen Hsiao Ashe
- Paulo Kofuji
- Dezhi Liao
- Jonathan Gewirtz
Selected Publications and Presentations:
Poster Presentations:
H. Ma; S. Lesné ; J.V. Steidl; L. Kotilinek; M. Sherman; K. SantaCruz; K. Sambamurti; R. Vassar; M. Citron; L.M. Boland; K.H. Ashe. BACE1 ELIMINATION ABOLISHES ENHANCED LONG-LASTING SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY AND SPATIAL REFERENCE MEMORY IN MICE OVEREXPRESSING WILD-TYPE HUMAN AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN. Society for Neuroscience National Meeting, 2004.
H. Ma; J.V. Steidl; S. Lesné; L. Younkin; S. Younkin; K. Hsiao Ashe; L.M. Boland. TRANSGENIC OVEREXPRESSION OF HUMAN WILD-TYPE AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN ENHANCES HIPPOCAMPAL LONG-TERM POTENTIATION. Society for Neuroscience National Meeting, 2003.
Presentations:
H. Ma. Roles of Amyloid Precursor Protein and Amyloid Beta Peptide in
Synaptic Plasticity and Memory. University of Minnesota Neuroscience Colloquium, 2005.
H. Ma. Role of the Amyloid Precursor Protein in Synaptic Plasticity and Memory. University of Minnesota Neuroscience Colloquium, 2004.
Publications:
Ma H , Lesne S, Kotilinek L, Steidl-Nichols JV, Sherman M, Younkin L, Younkin S, Forster C, Sergeant N, Delacourte A, Vassar R, Citron M, Kofuji P, Boland LM, Ashe KH. Involvement of {beta}-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) in amyloid precursor protein-mediated enhancement of memory and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Apr 30
Ma H, Lesne S, Kotilinek L, Steidl J, Westerman M, Younkin L, Yongkin S, Kofuji P, Boland L, Ashe K. Roles of APP cleavage products in synaptic plasticity and spatial reference memory. Submitted.
Boland L, Ma H, Steidl J, Lesne S, Kotilinek L, Westerman M, Younkin L, Yongkin S, Ashe K. Investigations on the molecular mechanisms involved in superior memory and enhanced LTP in mice. In preparation.
Zhao M, Ma H, Wang W. Superior Olivary Nuclei and Hearing. Progress of Anatomical Science 2000 Vol.6 No.3
Awards and Honors:
- President of the University Badminton Club
Professional Memberships:
- Society for Neuroscience, since 2002
Home Town:
- Xi'an, China, the city where the famous Terracotta Soldiers are located
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