AKIRA
SAKURAI
Atlanta, GA 30302-4010
Tel: 404-651-0920
Fax: 404-651-2509
E-mail: akira(at)gsu.edu
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Ph.D., 1998 Doctoral
Program in Biological Sciences,
Thesis
title: “Electrophysiological studies in acceleratory nervous regulation in the
isopod crustacean Ligia exotica.” Advisor: Dr. H. Yamagishi
B.Sc., 1993
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June 2004-present
Research Scientist I, Department of Biology,
July 2001-May 2004
Research Associate,
Department of Biology,
July 2000-May 2001
Research Assistant Professor, Section of Molecular Neurobiology,
April 2000-July 2000
Research Fellow
of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Department of Biology, Tokyo
Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan. Advisor:
Dr. K. Kuwasawa
May 1998-March 2000
Postdoctoral
Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences,
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2000 Research
Fellowship of the
2000 Yoshida Prize
for Young Researchers, the Japanese Society for Comparative Physiology and
Biochemistry
2004 Best Poster Award, South East Nerve Net
Meeting
2005 Society for Neuroscience Chapters
Postdoctoral Travel Award
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Membership of Academic Societies:
Zoological Society of
Physiological Society of
Japanese Society for Comparative
Physiology and Biochemistry
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Invited
Talks:
2000 Invited Speaker, Yoshida Prize for Young Researchers
Symposium, the Japanese Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry
2006 Invited Lecture,
Hybrid Neural Microsystem, Georgia Institute of
Technology
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6. A. Sakurai (2007) Spike timing-dependent neuromodulation in the Tritonia swim central pattern generator. Jpn Soc Comp Physiol Biochem 24: 18-26.
12. A. Sakurai (2001) Neuromuscular transmission in the
heart of crustacean Ligia exotica. Jpn Soc Comp Physiol Biochem 18:
36–42.
16. A. Sakurai (1998)
Electrophysiological studies in acceleratory nervous regulation of the heart in
the isopod crustacean, Ligia exotica. Doctoral Thesis,
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Ad Hoc Referee:
2006 Journal
of Neurophysiology
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Services:
2004 South East Nerve Net Steering Committee
2006 South East Nerve Net Steering
Committee
2008 South East Nerve Net Steering Committee
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Presentations:
1) Sakurai A, Katz PS (2009). Synaptic properties predict individual susceptibility
to and recovery from lesion of a central pattern generator. Soc Neurosci Abstr 35. 366.14.
2)
Jhara S, Sakurai
A, Lillvis
JL, Katz PS (2008). Serotonergic innervation
of the Aplysia
tail nerve. Soc Neurosci
Abstr 34. 880.3.
3)
Katz PS, Sakurai
A, Hill
ES,
4)
Sakurai A, Katz PS (2008). A serotonergic
interneuron evokes both state-dependent and state-independent neuromodulatory actions. Soc Neurosci Abstr
34. 574.3.
5) Sakurai A,
Katz PS (2007). Adaptive plasticity underlies functional recovery following
lesion of a central pattern generator. Soc Neurosci Abstr 33. 118.12.
6) Sakurai A,
Katz PS (2006). Activity-dependent heterosynaptic augmentation of synaptic
transmission caused by a serotonergic interneuron in the Tritonia swim CPG. Soc
Neurosci Abstr 32. 350.4.
7) Sakurai A,
Katz PS (2006). Activity-dependent heterosynaptic potentiation of synaptic
transmission caused by a serotonergic interneuron in the Tritonia swim CPG. Proc of the 77th meeting of the
Zoological Society of Japan.
8) Sakurai A,
Calin-Jageman RJ, Katz PS (2005). Serotonergic
enhancement of transmitter release mediates the synaptic potentiation phase of
spike timing-dependent neuromodulation. Soc Neurosci Abstr 31. 177.13.
9) Sakurai A
and Katz PS (2004). Serotonergic enhancement of a 4-AP sensitive current causes
spike propagation failure in a Tritonia
swim CPG neuron with multiple spike initiation zones. Soc Neurosci Abstr 30.
537.1.
10) Darghouth NR, Sakurai
A, Katz PS, and Butera RJ (2004). Computer simulations and dynamic clamp
experiments support a role for a 4-AP-sensitive current in serotonin-induced
spike narrowing leading to synaptic depression. Soc Neurosci Abstr 30. 420.2.
11) Sakurai A
and Katz PS (2003) 4-AP and IBMX selectively block the depression phase of a
biphasic neuromodulation of synaptic strength by serotonergic neurons in the Tritonia swim CPG. Soc Neurosci Abstr 29. 168.18.
12)
Sakurai A and Katz PS (2002) Serotonergic interneurons in
Tritonia evoke a biphasic
neuromodulatory action. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr 28, 270.13.
13)
Katz
PS, Sakurai A, Clemens S, Davis D (2002) Cycle period regulation in the Tritonia escape swim. Soc Neurosci Abstr
28, 67.5.
14)
Lynn-Bullock
CP, Clemens S, Sakurai A, and Katz PS (2002) Functional anatomy of the
escape swim CPG in Tritonia. Soc
Neurosci Abstr 28, 67.25.
15)
Clemens
S, Lynn-Bullock CP, Sakurai A, and Katz PS (2002) Localization of
function in Central Pattern Generator. European J Neurosci 16S.
16)
Yamagishi
H, Takano S, and Sakurai A (2001) Developmental changes in inhibitory
nervous regulation of the heart in the isopod crustacean Ligia exotica. Comp Biochem Physiol A130, 876.
17)
Nozaki
S and Sakurai A (2001) Input-output properties of mesencephalic
reticular formation involved in the feeding control in guinea pigs. Jpn J Physiol 51, S240.
18)
Sakurai A, A. and Wilkens JL (2000) Proprioception
by pacemaker neurons in crustacean heart. Comp Biochem
Physiol 127A, 381.
19)
Sakurai A (2000) Neuromuscular
transmission in crustacean heart. Comp Biochem Physiol 127A, 381.
20)
Sakurai A and Wilkens
JL (1999) Diversity of muscle fibers in crayfish heart. Comp Biochem Physiol 124A, 131.
21)
Sakurai A, Mori A, and Yamagishi H (1998) Developmental
changes in nervous regulation of the heartbeat in the isopod crustacean Ligia exotica. International Symposium
on Cardiac Rhythms in Animals: Regulation, Development and Environmental
Influences.
22)
Sakurai A, Mori A, and H Yamagishi (1997) Glutamatergic transmission at neuromuscular junctions in
the heart of the isopod crustacean, Ligia
exotica. Proc of the 68th meeting of the
23)
Sakurai A and Yamagishi H (1997). Nonspiking
neuromuscular transmission in the heart of the isopod crustacean, Ligia exotica. Proc of the 8th
meeting of Japanese Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry.
24)
Sakurai A and Yamagishi H (1996). Blockage of excitatory
neuromuscular transmission by Joro spider toxin in
the heart of the isopod, Ligia exotica.
Proc of the 67th meeting of the
25)
Sakurai A and Yamagishi H (1996). Central and peripheral
projections of two cardio-acceleratory neurons in the isopod crustacean, Ligia exotica. Proc of the 7th
meeting of Japanese Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry.
26)
Yamagishi
H, Sakurai A and Mori A (1995). Developmental changes in the effects of
dopamine on the juvenile heart of the isopod crustacean, Ligia exotica. Proc. of the 66th meeting of the
27)
Sakurai A and Yamagishi H (1995). Developmental changes
in acceleratory nervous regulation in the heart of the isopod crustacean, Ligia exotica. Physiol Zool 68: 69.
28)
Sakurai A and Yamaigishi H
(1995). Acceleratory regulation of adult heart of the isopod Ligia exotica: Effects of two cardioacceleratory neurons on the cardiac ganglion. Proc of
the 6th meeting of Japanese Society for Comparative Physiology and
Biochemistry.
29)
Sakurai A and Yamagishi H (1994). Development of
acceleratory nervous regulation of the heart of the isopod Ligia exotica. Proc of the 65th meeting of the
30)
Yamagishi H, Mori A, and Sakurai A
(1994) Developmental changes in the effects of serotonin on juvenile heart of
the isopod crustacean Ligia exotica.
Proc of the 5th meeting of Japanese Society for Comparative Physiology and
Biochemistry.
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Research Experiences:
2001-presnet Research Associate,
Working in the laboratory of Dr.
2000-2001 Research Assistant Professor,
By in vivo
recording of single unit activities in the midbrain of anesthetized guinea
pigs, I found that changes in blood sugar level affect the threshold of the
central rhythm generator activity involved in cortically-induced rhythmic jaw
movements.
2000 JSPS Research Fellow,
Working in the laboratory of Dr. K. Kuwasawa,
I studied the development of axonal projection of the cardioregulatory
neurons from the central nervous system to the heart during the embryonic
development of crustaceans using basic histological techniques combined with immunohistochemical labeling of neuronal processes.
1998-2000 Postdoctoral Fellow,
Working in the laboratory of Dr. J. L. Wilkens,
I investigated the diversity in electrophysiological and mechanical properties
of muscle fibers in crustacean heart. I also investigated the effects of muscle
tension on heart pacemaker neurons and discovered that these neurons form
“single-neuron reflex arc” inside the heart.
1992‑1998 Undergraduate Research and Thesis Research,
My doctoral thesis,
entitled, “Electrophysiological studies in acceleratory nervous regulation in
the isopod crustacean Ligia exotica”,
was completed in the laboratory of Dr. H. Yamagishi. I identified two pairs of the cardioacceleratory neurons in the central nervous system of
the isopod crustacean and determined their actions onto the heart pacemaker
neurons and the heart muscle. I also determined that the heart pacemaker
neurons use glutamate as the neurotransmitter and that they exhibit both
spike-mediated and graded synaptic transmission to the heart muscle.