akiko dohi biosketch

My research has focused on the effect of steroidal hormones on affective disorders, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), postpartum depression, and perimenopausal mood swing.  I have studied the GABA-A receptor and how various signaling pathways affect function of these receptors through biochemical and electrophysiological analysis using HEK-t cells as a model. We found that the inhibition of the MAPK pathway led to potentiation of the α1β2γ2 configuration of GABA-A receptor function, which suggested that the MAPK pathway was a negative regulatory factor for the receptor in this cell model.

I’m originally from Osaka, Japan and have lived in Dallas, Texas since 1998.  I have enjoyed the wide-open spaces, which I never had in Japan.   I love music, movies, soccer, tennis, skiing, traveling, cooking, and carpentry.

I recently finished my doctoral degree at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth in Texas.  I’m excited to be joining Dr. Maguire’s laboratory as a postdoctoral associate in March 2009.