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TANG Feng-Ru MBBS, PhD Head & Principal Investigator Epilepsy Research Lab National Neuroscience Institute 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore 308433 Tel: (65) 357-7128 (65) 6357-7618 Fax: (65) 6256-9178 Email : feng_ru_tang@nni.com.sg |
- Metabotropic glutamate receptors and epileptogenesis in the pilocarpine model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE)
- Pan-brain neural circuits in MTLE
- Learning and memory in MTLE
- MBBS: Xian Jiaotong University (former Xian Medical University, People's Republic of China), 1987
- PhD: National University of Singapore, Singapore, 1996
- Postdoctoral Fellow: National University of Singapore, 1997-1999
- Metabotropic glutamate receptors and epileptogenesis
Glutamate receptors mediate excitatory neurotransmission and play an important role in neuronal plasticity and neurotoxicity in the central nervous system. These receptors may be broadly classified as ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). mGluRs consist of eight subtypes which are subdivided into three groups. Each group of MGluRs is responsible for the activation of specific second-messenger cascades, so to produce neurotoxicity or neuroprotection. We have studied the expression of different subtypes of mGluRs and the related signal transduction systems in various stages of epileptogenesis, and now we are trying to develop drugs to stop epileptogenesis by targeting on metabotropic glutamate receptors.
- Pan-brain neural circuits in MTLE
At least three neuronal macrocircuits, the limbic, thalamo-striatal-cortical and central autonomic systems, are suggested to be involved in the initiation and propagation of limbic motor seizures, and each show neuronal death following status epilepticus. We hypothesise that the resulting macrocircuit reorganization involving the remaining neurons in these regions may play a central role in epileptogenesis. Establishment of the newly formed pan-brain neural pathways and their chemical anatomy un animal model of epilepsy may form the basis of a novel surgical treatment of intractable mesial temporal lobe epielpsy.
- Learning and memory in MTLE
It is well-known that patients suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often experience cognitive problems, most frequently impaired memory function. However, there is a limited literature regarding the progressive effects of temporal lobe epilepsy on cognition, particularly, the neuronal death on the impaired learning and memory function. We have tried to establish the relationship between the severity of seizure-induced brain damage and the impairment of learning and memory in mice after pilocarpine induced status epilepticus and subsequent temporal lobe epielpsy, and study the effects of agonists and antagonists of group I, group II and III metabotropic glutamate receptors in the prevention of learning and memory impairment at different stages after pilocarpine induced status epilepticus, and subsequent temporal lobe epilepsy in an attempt to find out a potential therapeutic use, some interesting results have been got.
- Tang FR, Chia SC, Chen PM, Gao H, Lee WL, Yeo TS, Burgunder JM, Probst A, Sim MK, Ling EA
Metabotropic glutamate receptor2/3 int he hippocampus of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, of rats and mice after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus.
Epilepsy Res. 59 (2004): 167 - 180
- Tang FR, Lee WL, Gao H, Chen Y, Loh YT, Chia SC
Expression of different isoforms of protein kinase C in the rat hippocampus after pilocarpine induced status epilepticus with special reference to CA1 area and the dentate gyrus.
Hippocampus, 14 (2004):87 -98
- Sim M K, Tang FR, Xu XG
Effects of des-aspartate-angiotensin I on neointima growth, cardiac hypertrophy and arteriosclerosis.
Regul. Pept., 117 (2004): 213 -217
- Wen Q, Sim MK, Tang FR
Reduction of infarct size by orally administered des-aspartate-angiotensin I in the ischemic reperfused rat heart.
Regul. Pept., 120 (2004): 149 -53
- Tang FR, Lee WL, Yang J, Sim MK and Ling EA.
Expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 in the hippocampus of rat pilocarpine model of status Epilepticus.
Epilepsy Res., 46(2) (2001) 179-189.
- Tang FR, Lee WL, Yang J, Sim MK, Ling EA.
Expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 8 in the rat hippocampus after pilocarpine induced status epilepticus.
Neurosci. Lett., 300 (3) (2001) 137-40.
- Tang FR, Yeo JF, Leong SK.
Qualitative light and electron microscope study of glutamate receptors in the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus of the rat.
J. Dent. Res., 80(8) (2001) 1736-41.
- Tang FR, Lee WL.
Expression of the group II and III metabotropic glutamate receptors in the hippocampus of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
J. Neurocytol., 30 (2001) 135-141.
- Tang FR, Lee WL, Yeo TT.
Expression of the group I metabotropic glutamate receptor in the hippocampus of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
J. Neurocytol., 30 (2001) 403-411.
- Dr Tang Fng Ru, Head & Principal Investigator
- Dr Ma Dong Liang, Postdoctoral Fellow
- Dr Jiang Feng Li, Postdoctoral Fellow
- Mr Chen Peng Min, Research Assistant
- Miss Chia Shwn Chin, Research Assistant
- Miss Joyce Chang, Research Assistant
- Mr Zhang Si, Postgraduate student
COLLABORATORS
Local
- Associate Professor Lee Wei Ling
Director
National Neuroscience Institute
Singapore
- Dr Xavier Golay
Physicist (MRI)
Department of Neuroradiology
National Neuroscience Institute
Singapore
- Dr Sheen ST
Assistant Professor
Department of Anatomy
National University of Singapore
Singapore
Overseas
Hungary
- Professor Tamas F. Freund
Director
Institute of Experimental Medicine
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Hungary
France
- Dr Therese M Jay
Research Director
Physiopathology of Psychiatric Diseases
Hôpital Sainte Anne
University of Paris
France
- Dr Durkin TP
Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives
CNRS UMR 5106
Universite de Bordeaux 1, Avenues des Facultes
33405 Talence
France
- Dr Bontempi B
Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives
CNRS UMR 5106
Universite de Bordeaux 1, Avenues des Facultes
33405 Talence
France
Switzerland
- Professor Burgunder JM
Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Neurology
University of Bern, Bern
Switzerland
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