Peter Ohara, PhD, Professor in Residence
peter.ohara@ucsf.edu
Administrative Assistant: 415-476-1861
Jasmin & Ohara Lab Website

Research Interests

Dysfunction of the nervous system is often considered only in terms of changes to neurons, but alteration in the function of support cells, called glia, can be equally significant. Currently we are looking at two areas where glial cell behavior has significant behavioral consequences.

In the central nervous system (CNS), the loss of a type of glial cell called oligodendrocytes, can lead to profound CNS dysfunction. The condition resulting from oligodendrocyte loss is called demyelination and multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most widely known examples. Although oligodendrocytes are capable of dividing and replacing themselves, in conditions such as MS this does not occur. My laboratory is looking at the mechanisms that prevent oligodendrocyte remyelination and examining whether a second type of myelinating cell, the Schwann cell, can be a viable substitute for lost oligodendrocytes. We are using animal models, transgenic mice and in vitro studies to examine the relationship between Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes in the repair of demyelinated spinal cord. We hope to develop methods for using Schwann cells to assist in the repair of demyelinated spinal cord.

There is growing evidence that glial cells also play a role in the generation and maintenance of pain. We are currently focusing on a specialized type of glial, called a satellite cell, found in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Satellite cells surround, and profoundly influence, sensory neurons and ultimately sensory perception and pain. We have found that changing a single ion channel in satellite glia cells can change the response to painful stimuli. We are using a combination of morphological analysis, and behavioral assays together with RNA interference to dissect the role of satellite glial cells in generating or ameliorating pain in experimental models.

Left- Spinal cord stained for Schwann cell myelin (red) and Astrocytes (green). Right- Satellite glial cells (green), sensory neurons (red) and cell nuclei (blue) in the trigeminal ganglion.

Complete list of Publications/PubMed

Selected Publications

Jasmin L, Gabriella Janni, Douglas A. Lappi, and Ohara P.T., (2000) Schwann Cells Are Removed From The Spinal Cord After Effecting Recovery From Paraplegia. J Neurosci 20, 9215-9223.

Jasmin, L., Tien, D., Weinshenker, D., Palmiter, R.D. Green, P.G., Janni, G. and Ohara, P.T. (2002) The NK1 receptor mediates both the hyperalgesia and the resistance to morphine in mice lacking noradrenaline. PNAS, 99:1029-1034

Jasmin, L., Rabkin, S.D., Granato, A., Boudah, A., and Ohara, P.T. (2003) Analgesia and hyperalgesia from GABAergic modulation of the cerebral cortex. Nature, 242:316-320

Jasmin, L. and Ohara, P.T. (2004) Recurrent Paraplegia after Remyelination of the Spinal Cord. J. Neurosci. Res. 77:277-284.

Ohara, P.T., Vit, J-P, Jasmin L. (2005) Cortical modulation of pain. Cell Mol Life Sci;62(1):44-52.

Vit, J-P., Ohara, P.T., Tien, D.A., Fike, J.R., Eikmeier, L., Beitz, A., Wilcox, G.L., Jasmin, L. (2006).The analgesic effect of low dose focal irradiation in a mouse model of bone cancer is associated with spinal changes in neuro-mediators of nociception. Pain. 121:188-201.