Raymond Ho, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
ho.5@osu.edu
614-292-7437
614-292-7659
Appointments:
Neuroscience, College of Medicine; Division of Anatomy,
College of Medicine; Oral Biology, College of Dentistry
Education:
Ph.D.: University of Minnesota
Research Area:
Research involves the use of multiple techniques to investigate the development
of chemically identified sensory and motor systems in the spinal cord.
Current Research:
Research efforts encompass studies of peptides and other chemically identified
substances in the developing and adult mammalian nervous systems utilizing
immunohistochemical techniques and in situ hybridizations. The major research
interest is directed toward investigations of the role of these substances
in mediating the sensation of pain at the spinal cord level. In addition,
various peptides are transiently expressed in developing ventral horn motoneurons.
The synaptic target of these cells are their corresponding developing skeletal
muscles. Thus the potential role of peptides in the development of the neuromuscular
junction and muscle fiber differentiation and maturation are also subjects
of investigations. In general, experiments are designed to reveal the developmental
history and mechanisms of function of chemically identified circuits in selected
sensory and motor systems.
Techniques Available:
Equipped for basic anatomical research. For example, procedures involving
light and electron microscopy, various surgical procedures, Golgi impregnation
and tract tracing. In addition, we are also equipped and perform immunohistochemistry
and in situ hybridization experiments.
Representative Publications:
Lu J*, Ho RH: (1992) Evidence for dorsal root projections to somatostatin immunoreactive structures in laminae I-II of the spinal dorsal horn. Brain Res. Bull., 28:17-26.
Mather CS*, Ho RH: (1992) Golgi impregnated somatostatin immunoreactive neurons in lamina II of the rat spinal cord. Brain Res. Bull., 28:305-309.
Hannan LJ*, Ho RH: (1992) Anatomical evidence for interactions between somatostatin neurites in LII of the rat spinal cord. Peptides, 13:329-337.
Ho RH, Wu W, Elde R: (1993) Pre-pro-somatostatin mRNA in the developing rat spinal cord with special reference to ventral horn motoneurons. Neuroscience Letters, 163:125-128.
* Undergraduate Honors student, graduate student or visiting scientist.