Research Assistant Professor of Physiology
Dr. Li received her MD from Nanjing Medical College 1981. After finishing her intern, residency, and surgical fellow training in Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University medical school she was appointed as attending doctor of general surgery and surgical research institute at the same hospital in 1986. She joined Department of Physiology, Dartmouth medical school as a research associate in 1988, and now she is Research Assistant Professor of Physiology
Central chemoreceptors have been identified at widespread sites within the brain stem including locus ceruleus, the nucleus tractus solitarius, midline caudal raphé, region near the ventral medullary surface, and ventral respiratory group. With Dr. Nattie, the lab is focused on where and how these central chemoreceptors integrate, coordinate and regulate the respiration, and on CO2/pH in acidosis, alkaline and normal conditions. Recent studies indicated that some of respiratory related neuronal dysfunction might relate to the Arousal State. For instance, destruction of retrotrapezoid nucleus in the ventrolateral medulla region caused apnea in anesthetized rats, but has little effect on resting ventilation when rats are awake. Current research questions include: why do the central chemoreceptors have such state-dependent behavior and what is the significance of this property on the control of breathing? And what is the relationship between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and abnormalities of the ventrolateral medulla? Dr. Li is also interested in other surgical and respiratory physiologic problems.
Coates, E.L., Li, A., Nattie, E.E. Widespread sites of brain stem ventilatory chemoreceptors. J. Appl. Physiol. 75:5-14, 1993.
Li, A., Nattie, E.E. Prolonged stimulation of respiration by brainstem metabotropic glutamate receptors. J. Appl. Physiol. 79:1650-1656, 1996.
Nattie, E.E., Li, A. Central chemoreception in the region of the ventral respiratory group in the rat. J. Appl. Physiol. 81:1987-1995, 1996.
Akilesh, M.R., Kamper, M., Li, A., and Nattie, E.E. Effects of unilateral lesions or retrotrapezoid nucleus on breathing in awake rats. J. Appl. Physiol. 82:469-479, 1997.