Selected Publications:

1. Huai-Xing Wang and Wen-Jun Gao (2012) Prolonged exposure to NMDAR antagonist induces cell-type specific changes of glutamatergic receptors in rat prefrontal cortex. Neuropharmacology 62:1808-1822 pdf

2. Yan-Chun Li, Christoph Kellendonk , Eleanor H. Simpson, Eric R. Kandel, Wen-Jun Gao (2011) D2 receptor overexpression in the striatum leads to a deficit in inhibitory transmission and dopamine sensitivity in prefrontal cortex. PNAS, 108(29): 12107-112. pdf Commentary in Schizophrenia Research Forum http://www.schizophreniaforum.org/new/detail.asp?id=1680

3. Agster K, Clark B, Gao WJ, Shumsky J, Wang HX, Berridge C and Waterhouse B (invited review, 2011) Experimental strategies for investigating drug actions in ADHD and related attention disorders. Anatomical Record, 294:1698-1712. pdf

4. Dong Xi*, Yan-Chun Li*, Melissa A. Snyder*, Ruby Y. Gao, Alicia E. Adelman, Wentong Zhang, Jed S. Shumsky, and Wen-Jun Gao (2011) Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist ameliorates MK-801-induced dysfunction of NMDA receptors via Akt/GSK-3b pathway. Neuropsychopharmacology. 36:1260-1274 (*these authors contribute equally). pdf

5. Yan-Chun Li and Wen-Jun Gao (2011) GSK-3beta Activity and Hyperdopamine-dependent Behaviors. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 35:645-654. pdf

6. Huai-Xing Wang and Wen-Jun Gao (2010) Development of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors and their correlation with NMDA receptors in fast-spiking interneurons of rat prefrontal cortex. The Journal of Physiology, 588(15):2823-2838. [selected for Faculty of 1000 Medicine (www.f1000medicine.com) and evaluated by Dr. Antonio Pisani, http://www.f1000medicine.com/article/wrlpf8s7ydqdhqh/id/5451956. pdf

7. Jian-Li Hu *, Gang Liu *, Yan-Chun Li *, Wen-Jun Gao, Yue-Qiao Huang (2010) Dopamine D1 receptor-mediated NMDA receptor insertion depends on Fyn but not Src kinase pathway in prefrontal cortical neurons. Molecular Brain, 3:20 (* these authors contribute equally). pdf

8. Yan-Chun Li 1, Gang Liu 1, Jian-Li Hu 1, Wen-Jun Gao * and Yue-Qiao Huang * (2010) Dopamine D1 receptor-mediated enhancement of NMDA receptor trafficking requires rapid PKC-dependent synaptic insertion in the prefrontal neurons. The Journal of Neurochemistry. 114:62-73 (1 these authors contribute equally). pdf

9. Yan-Chun Li, Dong Xi, Joy Roman, Yue-Qiao Huang,  and Wen-Jun Gao (2009) Activation of GSK-3b is required for hyperdopamine and D2 receptor mediated inhibition of synaptic NMDA receptor function in the rat prefrontal cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 29(49):15551-15563. pdf

10. Ji Y, Yang F, Papaleo F, Wang HX, Gao WJ, Weinberger DR, Lu B (2009). Role of dysbindin in dopamine receptor trafficking and cortical GABA function. PNAS, 106:19593-19598. pdf

11. Xi D , Zhang W, Wang HX, Stradtman GG III and Gao WJ (2009). Dizocilpine (MK-801) induces distinct changes of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor subunits in parvalbumin-containing interneurons in young adult rat prefrontal cortex. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 12:1395-1408. pdf

12. Wang HX and Gao WJ (2009). Cell-type specific development of NMDA receptors in the interneurons of rat prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology, 34(8):2028-2040. pdf

13. Xi D, Keeler B, Zhang W, Houle JD, and Gao WJ (2009). NMDA receptor subunit expression in GABAergic interneurons in the prefrontal cortex: application of laser microdissection technique. Journal of Neuroscience Method, 176:172-181. pdf

14. Wang HX, Stradtman GG III, Wang X-J, and Gao WJ (2008). A specialized NMDA receptor function in the recurrent microcircuitry of the adult prefrontal cortex. PNAS, 105(43):16791-16796. pdf

15. Gao WJ (2007). Acute clozapine suppresses synchronized pyramidal synaptic network activity by increasing inhibition in the prefrontal cortex. The Journal of Neurophysiology 97:1196-1208. pdf

16. Gao WJ and Goldman-Rakic PS (2006). NMDA receptor-mediated epileptiform persistent activity requires calcium release from internal stores. Experimental Neurology 197: 495-504. pdf

17. Gao WJ and Zheng ZH (2004). Target-specific differences in somatodendritic morphology of layer V pyramidal neurons in rat motor cortex. The Journal of Comparative Neurology 476:174-185. pdf

18. Gao WJ and Goldman-Rakic PS (2003). Selective Modulation of Excitatory and Inhibitory Microcircuits by Dopamine. PNAS, 100(5):2836-41. pdf

19. Gao WJ, Wang Y and Goldman-Rakic PS (2003). Dopamine modulation of peridendritic and perisomatic inhibition in prefrontal cortex. The Journal of Neuroscience, 23:1622-30. pdf

20. Gao WJ, Krimer LS and Goldman-Rakic PS (2001). Presynaptic regulation of recurrent excitation by D1 receptor in prefrontal circuits. PNAS, 98:295-300. pdf

21. Gao WJ, Wormington AB, Newman DE and Pallas SL (2000). Development of inhibitory circuitry in visual and auditory cortex of postnatal ferrets: immunocytochemical localization of parvalbumin and calbindin-containing neurons. The Journal of Comparative Neurology 422:140-157. pdf

22. Gao WJ and Pallas SL (1999). Cross-modal reorganization of horizontal connectivity in auditory cortex without altering thalamocortical input. The Journal of Neuroscience 19(18):7940-7950. pdf

23. Gao WJ, Newman DE, Wormington AB and Pallas SL (1999). Development of inhibitory circuitry in visual and auditory cortex of postnatal ferrets: immunocytochemical localization of GABAergic neurons. The Journal of Comparative Neurology 409(2):261-273. pdf