We are interested in studying the molecular mechanisms underlying (1) pain (2) neural development.

(1) Pain
 

We have observed that A-type potassium channel Kv4.3 is highly expressed in a subset of primary pain-sensing neurons and reduced Kv4.3 expression leads to mechanical hypersensitivity, a major symptom of neuropathic pain (Chien et al., 2007).

 

The following topics are currently under investigation:

(a) The molecular mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain induced by peripheral nerve injury.

(b) The molecular mechanisms underlying mirror-image pain evoked by unilateral nerve injury.

(c) Develop molecular drugs to treat neuropathic pain and mirror-image pain.

 

 

(2) Neural development
 

After screening a large number of voltage-gated ion channels (which have been detected in axons of adult mammals), we have found that A-type potassium channel Kv3.4 and L-type calcium channel Cav1.2 are co-expressed in the pioneer axons of almost all axonal tracts examined in embryonic rat forebrain (Huang et al., 2012). Now, we are exploring the functions of Kv3.4 and Cav1.2 during axon pathfinding in living animals.