Research Areas
The Department of Physiology is currently active
in six main research areas:
 Neurophysiology: Electrophysiological
recordings and behavioral studies are used to
investigate learning and memory mechanisms
and to search for neurobiological markers of
normal and pathological conditions particularly
in addiction, neurodegeneration and sleep
disorders. Neuroprotective roles of novel
nanoparticles and Thai medicinal plant extract
are also investigated.
 Cardiovascular Physiology: Research focuses
on cardiovascular control mechanisms and the
risk factors of atherosclerosis both in vivo and
in vitro study. Also, the isolation of bio-active
compounds derived from Thai medicinal plants
and their effects on the cardiovascular systems
are being extensively investigated.
 Exercise Physiology: Research focuses on
various factors including nutrition, lifestyle,
disease or physical training that have impact on
pulmonary and cardiovascular functions,
physical fitness and the improvement of fitness
rehabilitation.
 Respiratory Physiology: Research focuses on
the mechanisms of airway epithelial transport
and pulmonary function test in health and
diseases.
 Renal Physiology: Research involves the study
of renal transport of electrolytes and organic
ions, the effects of medicinal plants on kidney
excretory functions, and the effects of peptide
hormones on renal functions.
 Gastrointestinal Physiology: Research focuses
on mechanisms and regulation of the
membrane transport including ion channels, gut
barriers and signal transduction.
Course Planning
Core Courses
 Physiology I
 Physiology II
 Physiology Laboratory
 Molecular Cell Physiology
 Experimental Techniques in Physiology
 Seminar in Physiology I, II, III
Elective Courses
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Ethical Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Neurobehavioral Science
Physiology of Membrane Transport
Developmental Physiology of Nervous System
Neuroendocrinology
Advanced Physiology of Cardiovascular System
Advanced Physiology of Respiratory System
Advanced Physiology of Renal System
Advanced Physiology of Gastrointestinal
System
 Advanced Physiology of Endocrine System
 Advanced Physiology of Vascular Smooth
Muscle and Endothelial Cells
Over the past five years graduate students
conducted independent research in our faculty's
laboratories. This partial list of present research
topics demonstrates the range of research being
carried out by our graduates:
 Relationship between EEG Biomarkers and
Neurobehavioral Development in Valproic Acid
(VPA)-induced Autistic Mouse Model
 Apium graveolens L. Crude Extract Enhances
Cognitive Function in Mice
 A Study of the Mechanism(s) by which Avian
Influenza Virus H5N1 Regulates Ion Transport
in Human Respiratory Epithelium
 Effects of Tropical Medical Plant Extracts on
Cardiovascular and Renal Functions in 2K1C
Goldblatt RVHR Rat
 Effects of Chronic Oral Administration of Crude
Extract from Leaves of Phyllanthus acidus on
Cardiovascular System in Middle-aged Male
Rats
 Relationship among EEG Patterns, Spatial
Memory and Cell Loss in Neural Degeneration
Induced by Kainic Acid or Dexamethasone and
in Aging Rats
 The Study of Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in
Diabetic Retinopathy
 Effects of Morelloflavone and Camboginol from
Garcinia dulcis on Contraction of Isolated Rat
Thoracic Aorta and Corpus Cavernosum
Physiology Faculty and their research interests
Siriphun Hiranyachattada, Associate Professor,
Ph.D. (Renal Physiology), University of Melbourne
 in vivo renal proximal tubular reabsorption
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using computerized video-based method of
shrinking split droplet micropuncture
renal microcirculation using laser doppler
flowmetry
In vivo renal functions using renal clearance
technique
renal lipid peroxidation, with application of
hormones & specific antagonists and plant
extracts in animal models including
normotensive, hypertensive and acute renal
failure
In vitro cardiac and smooth muscle contraction
Ekkasit Kumarnsit, Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience), University of Edinburgh
 Recording and analysis of neurophysiological
signal to characterize learning and memory
processes
 Role of the hippocampus on learning processes
for eating disorder, drug addiction or autism
 Characterization and identification of EEG
biomarker of neurobehavioral disorders
including eating or developmental disorders
Pennapa Chonpathompikunlert, Ph.D.
(Neuroscience), Khon Kaen University
 The role of nanotechnology for drug delivery to
treat various pathological conditions related
with free radical pathway
 Study of behavioral aspects or molecular
mechanism of neurodegenerative disease
 Brain tumor
 Inflammatory disease such as OA, RA and pain
condition
 Stroke condition
Pilaiwanwadee Hutamekalin, Ph.D. (Biomedicinal
Chemistry), Chulalongkorn University
 Studies of metabolic regulations and its
influence on cell and nervous system
 Studies of mechanisms of neuroinflammation
Pissared Khuituan, Ph.D. (Physiology), Mahidol
University
 Calcium metabolism : intestinal calcium
transport
 Physiology and pharmacology of CFTR Clchannel
 Endocrine and gastrointestinal physiology
Thapanee Roengrit, Ph.D. (Medical Physiology),
Khon Kaen University
 Exercise and Nutrition Physiology
 Heart rate variability
Nongyao Kitjaroennirut, M.Sc. (Physiology),
Mahidol University
Collaborative Researches
 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
 School of Biomedical and Clinical Laboratory
Sciences, College of Medical and Veterinary
Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology,
University of Bristol, UK
 Department of Biomedical Science, University
of Sheffield, UK
 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine,
Dentistry and Health Science, University of
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
 Laboratory of Exocrine Physiology and
Biophysics, Discipline of Physiology, Sydney
Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia
 Graduate School of Pure and Applied Science,
University of Tsukuba, Japan
 RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology
(CDB), Chuou-ku, Kobe, Japan
 Exercise Physiology
Nawiya Huipao, M.Sc. (Physiology),
Prince of Songkla University
 Respiratory and other epithelial transport and
their cellular regulation in health and diseases
*On study leave
*Wanida Nuwisait*, M.Sc. (Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology), Georgetown University
 Brainstem EEG recordings to measure possible
brainstem seizure activity and its effects on
respiration and heart function
 Physiology of neurodegenerative disorders
 Biological bases of cognitive and behavioral
function
*Nipaporn Konthapakdee, M.Sc. (Physiology),
Mahidol University
 Visceral pain mechanisms
 Chronic pelvic pain mechanisms
 In vitro electrophysiological recording of
sensory nerves in urinary bladder
Additional Information
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science,
Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla,
Thailand 90112
Telephone: 6674288200
Fax: 6674446680
Website:
http://www.sc.psu.ac.th/Department/PHYSIO/index.html
Contact persons
Assoc. Prof. Siriphun Hiranyachattada, Ph.D.:
siriphun.h@psu.ac.th
Assist. Prof. Ekkasit Kumarnsit, Ph.D.:
ekkasit.k@psu.ac.th
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science
Prince of Songkla University,
Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
Background Information
The Department of Physiology is centrally
embedded in the Faculty of Science with strong links
to national and international research institutes. Our
Department is dedicated to understanding
fundamental physiological processes and translating
these to clinical care. The Department offers unique
opportunities for students interested in the body
function in health and disease at all levels including
molecular, cellular, organ and whole organism.
Expertise within the department spans several fields
including neuroscience, gastrointestinal, respiratory,
cardiovascular, renal and muscle physiology.
Academic Aspects
The Department offers Postgraduate Programs
with essential theory and practice in Physiology
devoted mainly to understand the human body.
Apart from the basic course requirements, the
department provides supervision for programs
leading to the award of an M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees
in Physiology.
The M.Sc. programs require students to
undertake both coursework and research, whereas
the Ph.D. program normally requires only research
leading to the presentation of a thesis. However,
some coursework may be assigned to candidates
who have insufficient background knowledge in
particular areas.