Sabrina Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Investigator
Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Research
E-mail: sabrina@nhri.org.tw
Education
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Ph.D. Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,1997
M.Sc. Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada,1988
B.Sc. Biology, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan,1984
Professional Experiences
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Assistant Investigator, Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Research, Nation Health Research Institutes, Taiwan (2005-present)
Research Associate/ Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology,
University of Toronto, Canada (2001- 2005)
Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of British
Columbia, Canada (1997-2001)
Visiting Research Consultant, EBEWE Arzneimittel, Graz, Austria (1995)
Research Assistant, Neurosciences Group, Institute of Biomedical Sciences,
Academia Sinica, Taiwan (1988-1990)
Research Interests
1. Adult Neurogenesis and Major Depression Dr. Wang’s interest in adult
neurogenesis started very early on when this field was just starting to get attentions
from the neuroscience community. She is particularly interested in the physiological
functions of those adult-born young neurons in the dentate gyrus. She had studied
the electrophysiological properties of the adult-born young neurons (Wang et al.,
2000) and their potentials in repairing the damaged nervous system (Wang et al.,
2004). Another approach she used to access the function of the adult-born young
neurons is by using irradiation to block adult neurogenesis and subsequently
studying the hippocampus-dependent memory function. In recent years there are
both clinical and pre-clinical evidences indicating that adult neurogenesis might play
a role in the major depression pathophysiology. She intends to use animal models of
major depression to further explore the relationship and functional changes of adult
neurogenesis in major depression.
2. Synaptic plasticity Nervous system showed adaptive plastic changes in both
physiological and pathological conditions. Synaptic plasticity is one of the plastic
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changes in the central nervous system besides adult neurogenesis that draws her
attention. As a trained electrophysiologist, Dr. Wang uses electrophysiological
recording techniques to study synaptic function as her favourite approach to
understand the function of the nervous system, particularly the function of
hippocampal formation. She used hippocampal slice preparation for the synaptic
functional studies. Hippocampus brain slice preparation is ideal for
electrophysiological recordings and provided convenient ways for imaging studies
and molecular manipulations as well. In the study of major depression
pathophysiological changes mentioned above, changes in the synaptic plasticity will
be one of her major focuses.
Research Activities & Accomplishment
In addition to the main focus on neurogenesis and major depression studies Dr.
Wang's laboratory also collaborates with the stem cell center of NHRI on a project
studying the neurogenic niche properties. She will use both the co-culture system
and ex-vivo culture system to explore the cell-cell interaction and cell-matrix
interaction in generating the micro-environment suitable for neurogenesis.
Honors & Awards
N/A
Publications/ including books , chapters, journal articles
Peer-reviewed manuscripts
1. Winocur, G., Wojtowicz, J.M., Sekeres, M., Snyder, J.S., Wang, S. (2006)
Inhibition of neurogenesis interferes with hippocampus-dependent memory
function. Hippocampus 16:296-304.
2. Wang, S., Kee, N., Preston, E. and Wojtowicz, J.M. (2004) Role of adult
hippocampal neurogenesis in compensating ischemia-induced functional
damage. Exp. Brain Res. 165:250-260.
3. Wang, S.; Jia, Z., Roder, J.C. and Murphy, T.H. (2002) AMPA receptor mediated
miniature synaptic calcium transients in GluR2 null mice. J. Neurophysiol.
88:29-40.
4. Wang, S., Scott, B.W., and Wojtowicz, J.M. (2000) Heterogenous properties of
dentate granule neurons in the adult rat. J. Neurobiol. 42:248-57.
5. Wang, S., Prange, O., and Murphy, T.H. (1999) Amplification of calcium signals at
dendritic spines proves a method for CNS quantal analysis. Can. J. Physiol.
Pharmacol. 77:651-9.
6. Winslow, J.L., Jou, S.F., Wang, S. and Wojtowicz, J.M. (1999) Signals in
stochastically generated neurons. J. Comput. Neurosci. 6:5-26.
7. Scott, B.W., Wang, S., Burnham, W.M., De Boni, U., and Wojtowicz, J.M. (1998)
Kindling-induced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the rat. Neurosci. Lett.
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248:73-76.
8. Wang, S. and Wojtowicz, J.M. (1996) Effect of GABAB receptors on synaptic
interactions in dentate gyrus granule neurons of the rat. Neuroscience 79:117-127.
9. Wang, S., Wojtowicz, J.M., and Atwood, H.L. (1996) Synaptic recruitment during
long-term potentiation at synapses of the medial perforant pathway in the dentate
gyrus of the rat brain. Synapse 21:78-86.
10. Cooper, R.L., Stewart, B.A., Wojtowicz, J.M., Wang, S., and Atwood, H.L. (1995)
Quantal measurement and analysis methods compared for crayfish and Drosophila
neuromuscular junctions, and rat hippocampus. J. Neurosci. Methods. 61:67-78.
11. Baskys, A., Wang, S., Remington, G. and Wojtowicz, J.M. (1993) Haloperidol and
loxapine but not clozapine increase synaptic responses in the hippocampus. Eur. J.
Pharmacol. 235:305-307.
12. Chai, C.Y., Wu, W.C., Wang, S., Su, C.K., Lin, Y.F., Yen, C.T., Kuo, J.S., and
Wayner, M.J. (1992) Coexistence of autonomic and somatic mechanisms in the
pressor areas of medulla in cats. Brain Res. Bull. 29:15-26.
13. Chai, C.Y., Lin, Y.F., Wang, S., Wu, W.C., Yen, C.T., Kuo, J.S., and Wayner, M.J.
(1990) Inhibition of spinal reflexes by paramedian reticular nucleus. Brain Res.
Bull. 25:581-588.
14. Chai, C.Y., Su, C.K., Wang, S., Hsieh, J.H., Yuan, C., Tseng, C.J., Tung, C.S.,
Chen, H.I., and Yen, M.S. (1990) Persistence of renal nerve and spinal reflex
activities and visceral motility after asphyxial anoxia. Chinese J. Physiol.
33:197-212.
15. Wang, S. and Robertson, R.M. (1989) Morphological study of flight motor
neurons in the cricket. J. Comp. Neurol. 279:272-280.
16. Wang, S. and Robertson, R.M. (1988) Changes of the hindwing motor pattern
associated with phonotactic steering during flight in the cricket, Teleogryllus
oceanicus. J. Comp. Physiol. 164:219-229.
Abstract and presentations (1998-2008)
1. H. Wu, N. Pan, R. Wei, and S. Wang (2008) Strain differences in the Chronic
Mild Stress Animal Model of Depression. Society for Neuroscience Abstract.
2. Yen-Chun Ho, Nailing Pan, and Sabrina Wang (2008) Correlation of
neurogenesis and learned helplessness behavior in an animal model of
depression. Society for Neuroscience Abstract.
3. Z.Lin, Y.-K. Lo, J.-Y. Yan, S. Wang (2008) Prenatal bacterial toxin
lipopolysaccharide exposure causes both dopaminergic and serotoninergic
neuron losses in the substantia nigra and dorsal raphe. Society for Neuroscience
Abstract.
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4. S. Wang (2008) Ion Channel Lecture for Signal Transduction course at NDMC
Graduate Institute of Life Sciences. March 4, 2008
5. S. Wang (2007) Electrophysiology Lecture for Neuroscience course at the
graduate school of Department of Life Sciences, Tunghai University, October
2, 2007.
6. S. Wang (2007) Ion Channel Lecture for Signal Transduction Course at NDMC
Graduate Institute of Life Sciences. March 6, 2007
7. S. Wang (2007) Adult neurogenesis and brain repair. Invited lecture at 台北市
立醫院松德院區,January 2, 2007.
8. M.-S. Chen, J. M. Wojtowicz , and S. Wang (2006) Correlation of learning and
memory performance with neurogenesis in dorsal dentate gyrus. Society for
Neuroscience Abstract.
9. S. Wang (2006) 神經學好好玩！Invited lecture at 台北市立景美女中,
September 28, 2008
10. S. Wang (2006) The potential of Adult Neurogenesis in Repairing Damaged
Nervous System. Invited lecture at NDMC Inflammation-related disorder study
group meeting, July 8. 2006
11. S. Wang (2006) The used of imaging methods in studying synaptic function.
Invited lecture at 3 rd Molecular Imaging Mini-Symposium, NHRI, March,16,
2008.
12. S. Wang (2006) Recovery of Synaptic Functions and Neurogenesis in the
Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus after Cerebral Ischemia. Invited lecture at Institute
of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming University, March 3, 2006.
13. S. Wang (2006) The potential of Adult Neurogenesis in Repairing Damaged
Nervous System. Invited lecture at 精神藥物學術研討會,台東知本, Jan7-8,
2006
14. Wang, S., McDonald, H., Snyder, J., and Wojtowicz, J.M. (2004) Age-related
decline of adult neurogenesis in laboratory rats. Functional relevance to learning
and memory. Society for Neuroscience Abstract.
15. Snyder, J., Wang, S., and Wojtowicz, J.M. (2004) Activity-dependent regulation of
adult neurogenesis. Society for Neuroscience Abstract.
16. Wang, S. (2003) Recovery of synaptic functions and neurogenesis in the
hippocampal dentate gyrus after cerebral ischemia. Departmental Seminar,
Biology Department, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.
17. Wang, S. (2003) Recovery of synaptic functions and neurogenesis in the
hippocampal dentate gyrus after cerebral ischemia. Southern Ontario
Neuroscience Association Annual Meeting. London, Ontario, Canada.
18. Wang, S., Kee, N., Preston, E., and Wojtowicz, J.M. (2002) Contribution of
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adult neurogenesis to functional recovery of dentate gyrus after ischemia.
Society for Neuroscience Abstract, Online.
19. Wang, S., Kee, N., Preston, E., and Wojtowicz, J.M. (2002) Contribution of adult
neurogenesis to functional recovery of dentate gyrus after ischemia. Route 28
Summit in Neurobiology, (Stem)-cell based therapeutic approaches for
Parkinson’s disease. Frauenchiemsee, Germany.
20. Wang, S., Jia, Z.; Roder, J.C., and Murphy, T.H. (2000) Studies of miniature
synaptic calcium transients mediated by calcium permeable AMPA receptors.
Society for Neuroscience Abstract. 26:351.
21. Ren, J.; Liu, Z.; Wang, S.; and Murphy, T.H. (2000) L-type Ca2+ channel mediated
Ca2+ transient discriminate different firing patterns in hippocampal CA1 neurons:
a modeling study. Society for Neuroscience Abstract. 26:1904.
22. Wojtowicz, J.M.; Scott, B.W.; and Wang, S. (1999) Long-term potentiation in
putative new-born granule neurons in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat. Society for
Neuroscience Abstract. 25:291.
23. Wang, S. and Murphy, T.H. (1998) Using GluR2 null mice to visualize AMPA
synaptic activity at single CNS synapses. Society for Neuroscience Abstract.
24:326.
Patents
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