Wei-Jung A. Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics
Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (TAMU/TAMHSC)
Phone: 979-845-5940
Fax: 979-845-0790
Email: WChen@medicine.tamhsc.edu
Education
Ph.D., Psychobiology/Neuroscience, State University of New York (1992)
Postdoctoral, Anatomy, University of Iowa
Research Interests
Effects of substance abuse (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, etc.) on the developing brain; Polydrug interactions on brain and cognitive developments; Fetal alcohol syndrome; Use of 3-dimensional stereological cell counting techniques, immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay, high-performance liquid chromatograph, gas chromatograph and behavioral assessments.
I participate in graduate training as a member of the faculty in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
Selected Publications
Farnell, YZ, Allen, GC, Nahm, SS, Neuendorff, N, West, JR, Chen, WJ and Earnest, DJ. (2008) "Neonatal alcohol exposure differentially alters clock gene oscillations within the suprachiasmatic nucleus, cerebellum and liver of adult rats". Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 32: 544-552.
Parnell, SE, West, JR and Chen, W-JA. (2006) "Nicotine decreases blood alcohol concentrations in adult rats: A phenomenon potentially related to gastric function". Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 30:1408-1413.
Chen, W-JA, King, KA, Lee, RE, Sedtal, CS and Smith, AM. (2006) "Effects of nicotine exposure during prenatal or perinatal period on cell numbers in adult rat hippocampus and cerebellum: A stereology study". Life Science 79:2221-2227.
Smith, AM, Zeve, DR, Dohrman, DP and Chen, W-JA. (2006) "The interactive effect of alcohol and nicotine on NGF-treated Pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells". Alcohol 39:65-72.
Chen, W-JA and Kelly, RB. (2005) "Effect of perinatal nicotine exposure on neonatal thyroid status and offspring growth in rats". Life Sciences 76:1249-1258.
Chen, W-JA and Harle, LK. (2005) "The interactive effect of alcohol and nicotine on developing cerebellum: an investigation of the temporal pattern of alcohol and nicotine administration". Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 29:437-442.
Grisel, JJ and Chen, W-JA. (2005) "Antioxidant pretreatment does not ameliorate alcohol-induced Purkinje cell loss in the developing rat cerebellum". Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 29:1223-1229.
Allen, GC, West, JR, Chen, W-JA and Earnest, DJ. (2005) "Neonatal alcohol exposure permanently disrupts the circadian properties and photic entrainment of the activity rhythm in adult rats". Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 29:1845-1852.
Smith, AM, Zeve, DR, Grisel, JJ and Chen, W-JA. (2005) "Neonatal alcohol exposure increases malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH)levels in the developing cerebellum". Brain Research: Developmental Brain Research 160:231-238.
Allen, GC, Farnell, YZ, Maeng, J-U, West, JR, Chen, W-JA and Earnest, DJ. (2005) "Long-term effects of neonatal alcohol exposure on photic re-entrainment and phase-shifting responses of the activity rhythm in adult rats". Alcohol 37:79-88.
Romero, RD and Chen, W-JA. (2004) "Gender-related response in open-field activity following developmental nicotine exposure in rats". Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 78:675-681.
Allen, GC, West, JR, Chen, W-JA and Earnest, DJ. (2004) "Developmental alcohol exposure disrupts circadian regulations of BDNF in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus". Neurotoxicology and Teratology 26:353-358.
Farnell, YZ, West, JR, Chen, W-JA, Allen, GC and Earnest, DJ. (2004) "Developmental alcohol exposure alters light-induced phase shifts of the circadian activity rhythm in rats". Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 28:1020-1027.
Chen, W-JA, Edwards, RB, Romero, RD, Parnell, SE and Monk, RJ. (2003) "Long-term nicotine exposure reduces Purkinje cell number in the adult rat cerebellar vermis". Neurotoxicology and Teratology 25:329-334.
Chen, W-JA and Edwards, RB. (2003) "Prenatal nicotine exposure does not cause purkinje cell loss in the developing rat cerebellar vermis". Neurotoxicology and Teratology 25:633-637.
