Zhiyi Zuo

Professor, Anesthesiology

Primary Location

PO Box 800710

Primary Phone Number

924.228.3

Bio & Overview

There are two research focuses in my laboratory: the regulation of glutamate transporters and neuroprotection. Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamate is also a toxin when its extracellular concentration is high. Glutamate transporters are membrane proteins, which transport glutamate from extracellular to intracellular space under physiological conditions. This process has been found to play an important role in maintaining low extracellular glutamate level. Five glutamate transporters have been characterized so far. We are interested in studying by what and how the activity and protein expression of glutamate transporters can be regulated. We use cell culture (including C6 cells, glial and neuronal cultures) and brain slices and employ pharmacology, physiology and biochemistry methods in our studies. Ischemia causes cell death. Ischemic brain injury is implicated in the pathophysiology of many human diseases including stroke. Excessive extracellular glutamate accumulation during ischemia has been thought to be an important mechanism for ischemic brain injury. Many agents or methods have been found to be neuroprotective. We are interested in studying the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning and volatile anesthetics in the central nervous system. We use both in vitro and in vivo models to study the mechanisms of these neuroprotective methods.

Academic Information

Department: Anesthesiology

Academic Title: Professor

Primary Education

MD, Medicine, Zhongshan Medical College, 1983
MS, Anesthesiology, Sun Yat Sen University of Medical Sciences, 1988
PhD, Pharmacology & Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 1994

Other Appointments

Professor, Neuroscience

Other Affiliations

Member, Unaligned Members
MSTP
Professor, BIMS

Research Interests

Neuroscience and Anesthetic Neuroprotection

PhD Programs

Neuroscience

Selected Publications

Zhang J, Tan H, Jiang W, Zuo Z, Amantadine Alleviates Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction Possibly by Increasing Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Rats., 2014; Anesthesiology. 121(4) 773-785. PMID: 25251457 | PMCID: PMC4176814

Cao J, Wang Z, Mi W, Zuo Z, Isoflurane unveils a critical role of glutamate transporter type 3 in regulating hippocampal GluR1 trafficking and context-related learning and memory in mice., 2014; Neuroscience. 272() 58-64. PMID: 24797327 | PMCID: PMC4077290

Chiao S, Zuo Z, A double-edged sword: volatile anesthetic effects on the neonatal brain., 2014; Brain sciences. 4(2) 273-94. PMID: 24961761 | PMCID: PMC4101477

Yu H, Deng J, Zuo Z, High-fat diet reduces neuroprotection of isoflurane post-treatment: Role of carboxyl-terminal modulator protein-Akt signaling., 2014; Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). () . PMID: 25142024

Zhao P, Ji G, Xue H, Yu W, Zhao X, Din M, Yang Y, Zuo Z, Isoflurane postconditioning improved long-term neurological outcome possibly via inhibiting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in neonatal rats after brain hypoxia-ischemia., 2014; Neuroscience. () . PMID: 25241064

Hou Q, Zuo Z, Michel P, Zhang Y, Eskandari A, Man F, Gao Q, Johnston KC, Wintermark M, Influence of chronic hyperglycemia on cerebral microvascular remodeling: an in vivo study using perfusion computed tomography in acute ischemic stroke patients., 2013; Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation. 44(12) 3557-60. PMID: 24029632

Zhang J, Jiang W, Zuo Z, Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate attenuates surgery-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction possibly via inhibition of nuclear factor κB., 2013; Neuroscience. 261() 1-10. PMID: 24365462 | PMCID: PMC3950371

Blum FE, Zuo Z, Volatile anesthetics-induced neuroinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses., 2013; Medical gas research. 3(1) 16. PMID: 23915963 | PMCID: PMC3733838

Lee S, Park SH, Zuo Z, Effects of isoflurane on learning and memory functions of wild-type and glutamate transporter type 3 knockout mice., 2012; The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. 64(2) 302-7. PMID: 22221107

Cao L, Feng C, Li L, Zuo Z, Contribution of microRNA-203 to the isoflurane preconditioning-induced neuroprotection., 2012; Brain research bulletin. 88(5) 525-8. PMID: 22609621 | PMCID: PMC3381978

Cao L, Li L, Lin D, Zuo Z, Isoflurane induces learning impairment that is mediated by interleukin 1β in rodents., 2012; PloS one. 7(12) e51431. PMID: 23251531 | PMCID: PMC3520904

Zuo Z, A Novel Mechanism for Sevoflurane Preconditioning-induced Neuroprotection., 2012; Anesthesiology. () . PMID: 22929733 | PMCID: NIHMS404800

Feng C, Cao L, Zuo Z, RNA interference-produced autoregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression., 2011; FEBS letters. 585(15) 2488-92. PMID: 21741974 | PMCID: PMC3148287

Huang Y, Li L, Washington JM, Xu X, Sando JJ, Lin D, Zuo Z, Inhibition of isoflurane-induced increase of cell-surface redistribution and activity of glutamate transporter type 3 by serine 465 sequence-specific peptides., 2011; European journal of pharmacology. 655(1) 16-22. PMID: 21266171 | PMCID: PMC3055949

Lin D, Li G, Zuo Z, Volatile anesthetic post-treatment induces protection via inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β in human neuron-like cells., 2011; Neuroscience. 179() 73-9. PMID: 21277352 | PMCID: PMC3059391

Gwak MS, Cao L, Li L, Zuo Z, Isoflurane preconditioning reduces oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal injury via B-cell lymphoma 2 protein., 2011; Environmental toxicology and pharmacology. 31(1) 262-5. PMID: 21359097 | PMCID: PMC3045195

Varhabhatla N, Zuo Z, The effects of chronic pulmonary disease on hospital length of stay and cost of hospitalization after neurosurgery. Clinical article., 2011; Journal of neurosurgery. 115(2) 375-9. PMID: 21495820

Feng C, Li J, Zuo Z, Expression of the transcription factor regulatory factor X1 in the mouse brain., 2011; Folia histochemica et cytobiologica / Polish Academy of Sciences, Polish Histochemical and Cytochemical Society. 49(2) 344-51. PMID: 21744337 | PMCID: PMC3220163

Li J, Sheng W, Feng C, Zuo Z, Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate attenuates brain Aβ increase and improves long-term neurological outcome in rats after transient focal brain ischemia., 2011; Neurobiology of disease. 45(1) 564-72. PMID: 21983158 | PMCID: PMC3225696

Li L, Zuo Z, Isoflurane postconditioning induces neuroprotection via Akt activation and attenuation of increased mitochondrial membrane permeability., 2011; Neuroscience. 199() 44-50. PMID: 22040798 | PMCID: PMC3237819

Lin D, Cao L, Wang Z, Li J, Washington JM, Zuo Z, Lidocaine attenuates cognitive impairment after isoflurane anesthesia in old rats., 2011; Behavioural brain research. 228(2) 319-27. PMID: 22192381 | PMCID: PMC3268839

Lin D, Zuo Z, Isoflurane induces hippocampal cell injury and cognitive impairments in adult rats., 2011; Neuropharmacology. 61(8) 1354-9. PMID: 21864548 | PMCID: PMC3189329

McMurtrey RJ, Zuo Z, Isoflurane preconditioning and postconditioning in rat hippocampal neurons., 2010; Brain research. 1358() 184-90. PMID: 20709037 | PMCID: PMC2949531

Raphael J, Gozal Y, Navot N, Zuo Z, Hyperglycemia inhibits anesthetic-induced postconditioning in the rabbit heart via modulation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling., 2010; Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology. 55(4) 348-57. PMID: 20125034

Antonakakis JG, Scalzo DC, Jorgenson AS, Figg KK, Ting P, Zuo Z, Sites BD, Ultrasound does not improve the success rate of a deep peroneal nerve block at the ankle., 2010; Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. 35(2) 217-21. PMID: 20301828

Wu X, Lin D, Li G, Zuo Z, Statin post-treatment provides protection against simulated ischemia in bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells., 2010; European journal of pharmacology. 636(1) 114-20. PMID: 20361961 | PMCID: PMC2866815

Lee SN, Li L, Zuo Z, Glutamate transporter type 3 knockout mice have a decreased isoflurane requirement to induce loss of righting reflex., 2010; Neuroscience. 171(3) 788-93. PMID: 20875840 | PMCID: PMC3401886

Lin D, Feng C, Cao M, Zuo Z, Volatile anesthetics may not induce significant toxicity to human neuron-like cells., 2010; Anesthesia and analgesia. 112(5) 1194-8. PMID: 20966438

Feng J, Zuo Z, Isoflurane preconditioning increases endothelial cell tolerance to in-vitro simulated ischaemia., 2010; The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. 63(1) 106-10. PMID: 21155822 | PMCID: PMC3058629

Gwak MS, Li L, Zuo Z, Morphine preconditioning reduces lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma-induced mouse microglial cell injury via delta 1 opioid receptor activation., 2010; Neuroscience. 167(2) 256-60. PMID: 20156527 | PMCID: PMC2849923

Li L, Zuo Z, Glutamate transporter type 3 knockout reduces brain tolerance to focal brain ischemia in mice., 2010; Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 31(5) 1283-92. PMID: 21139629 | PMCID: PMC3099634

Li L, Zuo Z, Isoflurane preconditioning improves short-term and long-term neurological outcome after focal brain ischemia in adult rats., 2009; Neuroscience. 164(2) 497-506. PMID: 19679170 | PMCID: PMC2762026

Kim JA, Li L, Zuo Z, Delayed treatment with isoflurane attenuates lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma-induced activation and injury of mouse microglial cells., 2009; Anesthesiology. 111(3) 566-73. PMID: 19672189 | PMCID: PMC2740753

Xu X, Kim JA, Zuo Z, Isoflurane preconditioning reduces mouse microglial activation and injury induced by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma., 2008; Neuroscience. 154(3) 1002-8. PMID: 18495358 | PMCID: PMC2492758

Lee JJ, Li L, Jung HH, Zuo Z, Postconditioning with isoflurane reduced ischemia-induced brain injury in rats., 2008; Anesthesiology. 108(6) 1055-62. PMID: 18497606 | PMCID: PMC2666347