Dr. Chai, Chok-Yung

Emeritus Research Fellow
Academician, Academia Sinica
  • 02-27899105
  • 02-27829224 (Fax)
Specialty:
  • Central cardiovascular Integration (CCI)
  • Central Integration of Defense Reactions
  • Non-cardiovascular Functions of CCI
Education and Positions:

  • M.D., Ph.D. Columbia Univ.

The main objective of this laboratory is to study the mechanism of cardiovascular integration in the medulla. Neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are crucial for the integration of cardiovascular functions. Investigations from our laboratory have shown that, neurons in the dorsal medulla (DM) besides RVLM also contribute to the cardiovascular integration. The DM not only participates in the maintenance of systemic arterial pressure but also supports the cardiovascular responses including changes in blood flow of different vascular beds during the midbrain defense reactions. With the central theme of DM, we correlate functions of this important region with other cardiovascular-reactive areas in the brainstem to explore their interneuronal connections subserving for vasomotor tone regulation.  Moreover, we have provided several lines of evidence indicating a correlation of vasomotor- and respiration-controlling mechanism around the caudal ventrolateral medulla, which may function as a bridge to couple sympathetic and respiratory nervous system. We have also identified other neurons in the cardiovascular-reactive areas that affect non-cardiovascular functions, including the gastrointestinal tract, urinary bladder, respiration and somatic spinal reflexes. The discovery of non-cardiovascular functions in the cardiovascular-reactive areas suggests that the medulla oblongata indeed holds multifarious integrating mechanisms, which are crucial for maintenance of homeostasis.

Journal 44 Book 0

  1. M. R. Wang, J. S. Kuo and C. Y. Chai Depressor and vocalized responses to carbachol on the visual cortex and dorsolateral and intermediate-lateral periaqueductal grey in cats 7th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience, July 12-17, 2007 (book of abstracts) 347 (2007) [JCR] [WOS]
  2. C. Y. Yang, P. C. Tan, W. C. Wu, J. C. Hsu, L. C. See and C. Y. Chai Inhibitory Effects of Propofol on Neuron Firing Activities in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Chin. J. Physiol 50, 251-257 (2007) [JCR] [WOS]
  3. W. C. Wu, J. P. Ueng and C. Y. Chai Effects of Asphyxia on Arterial Blood Pressure, Formation of Nitric Oxide in Medulla and Blood Parameters in the Cat Chin. J. Physiol 48, 51-56 (2005) [JCR] [WOS]
  4. Y. W. Cheng, M. C. Ku, C. M. Ho, C. Y. Chai and C. K. Su GABAB-Receptor- Mediated Suppression of Sympathetic Outflow from the Spinal Cord of Neonatal Rats J. Appl. Physiol 99, 1658-1667 (2005) [JCR] [WOS]
  5. W. C. Wu, M. R. Wang, C. Y. Yang, C. K. Su and C. Y. Chai Serotonin modulates glutamate action in the medulla to regulate cardiovascular functions in cats Chin J Physiol 48, 65-71 (2005) [JCR] [WOS]
  6. W .C. Wu, C.Y. Chai Nitric oxide release in the nucleus tractus solitarius during and after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 31, 152-158 (2004) [JCR] [WOS]
  7. S. Y. Chen, C. Y. Chai Coexistence of neurons integrating urinary bladder activity and pelvic nerve activity in the same cardiovascular areas of the pontomedulla in cats Chin J Physiol 45, 41-50 (2002) [JCR] [WOS]
  8. W. C. Wu, Y. Wang, L. S. Kao, F. I. Tang and C. Y. Chai Nitric oxide reduces blood pressure in the nucleus tractus solitarius: a real time electrochemical study Brain Res Bull 57, 171-177 (2002) [JCR] [WOS]
  9. L. Z. Hong, J. S. Kuo, M. H. Yen and C. Y. Chai Dorsomedial medulla is more susceptible than rostral ventrolateral medulla to hypoxic insult in cats J Appl Physiol 90, 248-260 (2001) [JCR] [WOS]
  10. S. Y. Chen, S. P. Mao and C. Y. Chai Role of nitric oxide on pressor mechanisms within the dorsomedial and rostral ventrolateral medulla in anaesthetized cats Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 28, 155-163 (2001) [JCR] [WOS]
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