Tangeng Ma, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Research 425
(601) 984-1698
TMa@pharmacology.umsmed.edu
Current Research:
The goal of our research is to understand the neurochemical mechanisms of drugs of abuse and neurotoxicants. Current research focuses on the modulatory role of opioid system in the central nerves system on the development of addiction to methamphetamine using rodent model. A variety of experimental techniques are involved in the research. These include animal behavioral tests, animal surgical procedures, microdialysis, Western blot, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, autoradiography, radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemistry, and HPLC, etc.
Selected Publications
Ma, T., Cai, Z., Wellman, S., and Ho, I.K. (2001) A quantitative histochemistry technique for measuring regional distribution of acetylcholinesterase in the brain using digital scanning densitometry. Anal. Biochem. 296:18-28. 
Fan, L.W., Tanaka, S., Tien, L.T., Ma, T., Rockhold, R.W., and Ho, I.K. (2002) Withdrawal from dependence upon butorphanol uniquely increases kappa1 opioid receptor binding in rat brain. Brain Res. Bull. 58:149-160.
Ma, T., Baker, R.C., Kramer, R.E., Fan, L.W., and Ho, I.K. (2003) Effects of chronic dermal exposure to nonlethal doses of methyl parathion on brain regional acetylcholinesterase and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in female rats. J. Neurosci. Res. 71:138-145.
Ho IK, Fan LW, Kim SY, Ma T, Rockhold RW (2004) Neurochemical alterations in physical dependence on butorphanol. J. Appl. Pharmacol. 12:198-201.
Chiu CT, Ma T, Ho IK. (2005) Attenuation of methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in mice by systemic administration of naltrexone. Brain Res Bull. 67:100-109.
Chiu CT, Ma T, Ho IK. (2006) Methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in mice: alterations in mu-opioid receptor. J Biomed Sci. 13: 797-811.
Tien LT, Ho IK, Loh HH, Ma T. (2006) Role of mu-opioid receptor in modulation of preproenkephalin mRNA expression and opioid and dopamine receptor binding in amphetamine-sensitized mice. J Neurosci.
Tien LT, Ma T, Fan LW, Loh HH, Ho IK (2007) Autoradiographic analysis of GABAA receptors in mu-opioid receptor knockout mice. Neurochem Res. 32:1891-1897.