Dr Hu Zhang, Our People, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, New Zealand

Hu Zhang Dr Zhang’s research is focused on preclinical studies of new anti-aging, antibiotics and central nervous system (CNS) agents using various animal models and the extrapolation of these results to humans. His research areas have included the following inter-related areas: biopharmaceutical analysis, pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, toxicity, drug discovery and development.

Since 2005, he has collaborated with Dr Ping Liu (Anatomy) on the contribution of the arginine metabolic to age-associated cognitive decline, disease biomarker identification and its potential use for drug discovery and development. Knowledge gained from this work will contribute significantly to the basic understanding of the neurobiology of the ageing brain and may lead to a LC/MS based metabonomic biomarker discovery and the development of agmatine based therapeutics for cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. They are currently funded by the New Zealand Neurological Foundation and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Find out more about Dr Zhang’s research https://www.otago.ac.nz/pharmacy/people/profile/index.html?id=281

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Publications

Li, Z., Zhang, T., Xu, L., Wei, Y., Cui, H., Tang, Y., … Zhang, H., Liu, P., … Wang, J. (2022). Plasma metabolic alterations and potential biomarkers in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 239, 19-28. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.11.011

Ahmad, F., Mein, H., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2021). Behavioural functions and cerebral blood flow in a P301S tauopathy mouse model: A time-course study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22, 9727. doi: 10.3390/ijms22189727

Zhang, J., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2021). Effects of sex and estrous cycle on the brain and plasma arginine metabolic profile in rats. Amino Acids. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00726-021-03040-5

Vemula, P. K., Jing, Y., Cicolini, J., Zhang, H., Mockett, B. G., Abraham, W. C., & Liu, P. (2020). Altered brain arginine metabolism with age in the APP_swe/PSEN1_dE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurochemistry International, 140, 104798. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104798

Feng, F., Fawcett, J. P., Zhang, H., & Tucker, I. G. (2020). Cell-based, animal and H₁ receptor binding studies relative to the sedative effects of ketotifen and norketotifen atropisomers. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, 72, 507-518. doi: 10.1111/jphp.13220

Journal - Research Article

Bergin, D. H., Jing, Y., Williams, G., Mockett, B. G., Zhang, H., Abraham, W. C., & Liu, P. (2019). Safety and neurochemical profiles of acute and sub-chronic oral treatment with agmatine sulfate. Scientific Reports, 9, 12669. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49078-0

Journal - Research Article

Hariharan, A., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2019). Altered neurovascular coupling and brain arginine metabolism in endothelial nitric oxide synthase deficient mice. Nitric Oxide, 87, 60-72. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2019.03.006

Journal - Research Article

Vemula, P., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., Hunt, Jr, J. B., Sandusky-Beltran, L. A., Lee, D. C., & Liu, P. (2019). Altered brain arginine metabolism in a mouse model of tauopathy. Amino Acids, 51, 513-528. doi: 10.1007/s00726-018-02687-x

Journal - Research Article

Zhang, J., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., Bilkey, D. K., & Liu, P. (2019). Maternal immune activation altered microglial immunoreactivity in the brain of postnatal day 2 rat offspring. Synapse, 73, e22072. doi: 10.1002/syn.22072

Journal - Research Article

Bergin, D. H., Jing, Y., Mockett, B. G., Zhang, H., Abraham, W. C., & Liu, P. (2018). Altered plasma arginine metabolome precedes behavioural and brain arginine metabolomic profile changes in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Translational Psychiatry, 8, 108. doi: 10.1038/s41398-018-0149-z

Journal - Research Article

Zhang, J., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., Bilkey, D. K., & Liu, P. (2018). Effects of maternal immune activation on brain arginine metabolism of postnatal day 2 rat offspring. Schizophrenia Research, 192, 431-441. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.05.016

Journal - Research Article

Zhang, J., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., Bilkey, D. K., & Liu, P. (2018). Maternal immune activation leads to increased nNOS immunoreactivity in the brain of postnatal day 2 rat offspring. Synapse, 72(1), e22011. doi: 10.1002/syn.22011

Journal - Research Article

Knox, L. T., Jing, Y., Bawazier-Edgecombe, J., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2017). Effects of withdrawal from repeated phencyclidine administration on behavioural function and brain arginine metabolism in rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry & Behavior, 153, 45-59. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.12.006

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Gupta, N., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Smith, P. F. (2017). Further studies of the effects of aging on arginine metabolites in the rat vestibular nucleus and cerebellum. Neuroscience, 348, 273-287. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.02.033

Journal - Research Article

Mazlan, M., Hamizah, H. S., Taridi, N. M., Jing, Y., Liu, P., Zhang, H., … Damanhuri, H. A. (2017). Effects of aging and tocotrienol-rich fraction supplementation on brain arginine metabolism in rats. Oxidative Medicine & Cellular Longevity, 2017, 6019796. doi: 10.1155/2017/6019796

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Dean, B., Bilkey, D. K., & Zhang, H. (2016). Altered brain arginine metabolism in schizophrenia. Translational Psychiatry, 6, e871. doi: 10.1038/tp.2016.144

Journal - Research Article

Bergin, D. H., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2015). A single intracerebroventricular Aβ_25-35 infusion leads to prolonged alterations in arginine metabolism in the rat hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Neuroscience, 298, 367-379. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.04.034

Journal - Research Article

Knox, L. T., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2014). Effects of acute phencyclidine administration on arginine metabolism in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in rats. Neuropharmacology, 81, 195-205. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.02.004

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Fleete, M. S., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Curtis, M. A., Waldvogel, H. J., … Abraham, W. C., & Zhang, H. (2014). Altered arginine metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease brains. Neurobiology of Aging, 35(9), 1992-2003. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.03.013

Journal - Research Article

Jing, Y., Fleete, M. S., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2013). Regional variations and age-related changes in arginine metabolism in the rat brain stem and spinal cord. Neuroscience, 252, 98-108. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.08.002

Journal - Research Article

Jing, Y., Zhang, H., Wolff, A. R., Bilkey, D. K., & Liu, P. (2013). Altered arginine metabolism in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of maternal immune activation rat offspring. Schizophrenia Research, 148(1-3), 151-156. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.06.001

Journal - Research Article

Nayak, P. K., Zhang, H., & Kerr, D. S. (2013). Determination of 1-(4’-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylene-dioxy-2,3-benzodiazepine by high-performance liquid chromatography—diode array detection in plasma and brain in healthy and hypoxic–ischaemic rats. Neuroscience, 232, 139-150. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.001

Journal - Research Article

Rushaidhi, M., Jing, Y., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2013). Participation of hippocampal agmatine in spatial learning: An in vivo microdialysis study. Neuropharmacology, 65, 200-205. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.10.007

Journal - Research Article

Rushaidhi, M., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2013). Effects of prolonged agmatine treatment in aged male Sprague-Dawley rats. Neuroscience, 234, 116-124. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.004

Journal - Research Article

Yang, L., Fawcett, J. P., Zhang, H., & Tucker, I. G. (2013). Effect of 12-oxochenodeoxycholate on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of morphine 6-glucuronide in Wistar rats. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, 65(4), 561-566. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12020

Journal - Research Article

Chen, G., Yang, L., Zhang, H., Tucker, I. G., & Fawcett, J. P. (2012). Effect of ketocholate derivatives on methotrexate uptake in Caco-2 cell monolayers. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 433, 89-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.04.077

Journal - Research Article

Gupta, N., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2012). Ageing alters behavioural function and brain arginine metabolism in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Neuroscience, 226, 178-196. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.09.013

Journal - Research Article

Gupta, N., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2012). Chronic difluoromethylornithine treatment impairs spatial learning and memory in rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry & Behavior, 100(3), 464-473. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.10.011

Journal - Research Article

Lee, H. J., Zhang, H., Orlovich, D. A., & Fawcett, J. P. (2012). The influence of probiotic treatment on sulfasalazine metabolism in rat. Xenobiotica, 42(8), 791-797. doi: 10.3109/00498254.2012.660508

Journal - Research Article

Rushaidhi, M., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2012). Agmatine selectively improves behavioural function in aged male Sprague-Dawley rats. Neuroscience, 218(30), 206-215. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.05.015

Journal - Research Article

Rushaidhi, M., Jing, Y., Kennard, J. T., Collie, N. D., Williams, J. M., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2012). Aging affects L-arginine and its metabolites in memory-associated brain structures at the tissue and synaptoneurosome levels. Neuroscience, 209, 21-31. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.02.021

Journal - Research Article

Yang, L., Fawcett, J. P., Østergaard, J., Zhang, H., & Tucker, I. G. (2012). Mechanistic studies of the effect of bile salts on rhodamine 123 uptake into RBE4 cells. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 9(1), 29-36. doi: 10.1021/mp200201y

Journal - Research Article

Knox, L. T., Jing, Y., Fleete, M. S., Collie, N. D., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2011). Scopolamine impairs behavioural function and arginine metabolism in the rat dentate gyrus. Neuropharmacology, 61(8), 1452-1462. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.08.042

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Campbell, S. A., & Zhang, H. (2011). Pre-aggregated Aβ_25-35 alters arginine metabolism in the rat hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Neuroscience, 193, 269-282. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.07.054

Journal - Research Article

Yang, L., Zhang, H., Fawcett, J. P., Mikov, M., & Tucker, I. G. (2011). Effect of bile salts on the transport of morphine-6-glucuronide in rat brain endothelial cells. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100(4), 1516-1524. doi: 10.1002/jps.22390

Journal - Research Article

Li, Y., Zhang, H., Fawcett, J. P., & Tucker, I. G. (2010). Effect of cyclosporin A on the pharmacokinetics of mitoquinone (MitoQ₁₀), a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, in rat. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5(3), 106-113.

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Zhang, H., Devaraj, R., Ganesalingam, G., & Smith, P. F. (2010). A multivariate analysis of the effects of aging on glutamate, GABA and arginine metabolites in the rat vestibular nucleus. Hearing Research, 269(1-2), 122-133. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2010.06.019

Journal - Research Article

Gupta, N., Zhang, H., & Liu, P. (2009). Behavioral and neurochemical effects of acute putrescine depletion by difluoromethylornithine in rats. Neuroscience, 161(3), 691-706. doi: 10.1016/j.nueroscience.2009.03.075

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Jing, Y., & Zhang, H. (2009). Age-related changes in arginine and its metabolites in memory-associated brain structures. Neuroscience, 164(2), 611-628. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.08.029

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Jing, Y., Collie, N. D., Chary, S., & Zhang, H. (2009). Memory-related changes in L-citrulline and agmatine in the rat brain. Hippocampus, 19(7), 597-602. doi: 10.1002/hipo.20561

Journal - Research Article

Yang, L., Zhang, H., Mikov, M., & Tucker, I. G. (2009). Physicochemical and biological characterization of monoketocholic acid, a novel permeability enhancer. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 6(2), 448-456. doi: 10.1021/mp800143w

Journal - Research Article

Li, Y., Fawcett, J. P., Zhang, H., & Tucker, I. G. (2008). Transport and metabolism of some cationic ubiquinone antioxidants (MitoQ_n) in Caco-2 cell monolayers. European Journal of Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics, 33(4), 199-204.

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Chary, S., Devaraj, R., Jing, Y., Darlington, C. L., Smith, P. F., Tucker, I. G., & Zhang, H. (2008). Effects of aging on agmatine levels in memory-associated brain structures. Hippocampus, 18, 853-856. doi: 10.1002/hipo.20448

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Collie, N. D., Chary, S., Jing, Y., & Zhang, H. (2008). Spatial learning results in elevated agmatine levels in the rat brain. Hippocampus, 18, 1094-1098. doi: 10.1002/hipo.20482

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Gupta, N., Jing, Y., & Zhang, H. (2008). Age-related changes in polyamines in memory-associated brain structures in rats. Neuroscience, 155, 789-796. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.06.033

Journal - Research Article

Liu, P., Rushaidhi, M., Collie, N. D., Leong, M.-T. T., & Zhang, H. (2008). Behavioral effects of intracerebroventricular microinfusion of agmatine in adult rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 122(3), 557-569. doi: 10.1037/0735-7044.122.3.557

Journal - Research Article

Li, Y., Fawcett, J. P., Zhang, H., & Tucker, I. G. (2007). Transport and metabolism of MitoQ₁₀, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, in Caco-2 cell monolayers. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, 59, 503-511.

Journal - Research Article

Li, Y., Zhang, H., Fawcett, J. P., & Tucker, I. G. (2007). Quantitation and metabolism of mitoquinone, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, in rat by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 21, 1958-1964.

Journal - Research Article

McLeod, B. J., Zhang, H., Huang, L., Thompson, E. G., Butt, A. G., & Tucker, I. G. (2005). An in situ single-pass perfusion model for assessing absorption across the intestinal mucosa of the brushtail possum. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 53(4), 234-241.

Journal - Research Article

Pukrittayakamee, S., Pitisuttithum, P., Zhang, H., Jantra, A., Wanwimolruk, S., & White, N. J. (2002). Effects of cigarette smoking on quinine pharmacokinetics in malaria. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 58, 315-319.

Journal - Research Article

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