Dr. Jonz is a neurobiologist whose research is focused on the structure and function of sensory systems in vertebrates. He primarily uses aquatic vertebrate animal models, such as the zebrafish and goldfish, to explore mechanisms of oxygen “sensing” by chemoreceptors of the gills and skin, and their role in the regulation of breathing. Dr. Jonz is also interested in visual processing in the retina, and the resistance of retinal neurons to hypoxia in organisms that are adapted to low oxygen environments. Dr. Jonz uses techniques of electrophysiology (primarily whole-cell patch clamp), intracellular calcium imaging, confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and cell culture.
Selected publications:
- Mierzwa AS, Nguyen F, Xue M, Jonz MG. (2020). Regeneration of the gill filaments and replacement of serotonergic neuroepithelial cells in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology. 274:103366.
- Country MW, Campbell BFN, Jonz MG. (2019). Spontaneous action potentials in retinal horizontal cells of goldfish (Carassius auratus) are dependent upon L-type Ca2+ channels and ryanodine receptors. Journal of Neurophysiology. 122:2284-2293.
- Zachar PC, Pan W, Jonz MG. (2017). Characterization of ion channels and O2 sensitivity in gill neuroepithelial cells of the anoxia-tolerant goldfish (Carassius auratus). Journal of Neurophysiology. 118:3014-3023.
- Zachar PC, Pan W, Jonz MG. (2017). Distribution and morphology of cholinergic cells in the branchial epithelium of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Cell and Tissue Research. 367:169-179.
- Abdallah SJ, Jonz MG, Perry SF. (2015). Extracellular H+ induces Ca2+ signals in respiratory chemoreceptors of zebrafish. Pflügers Archiv (European Journal of Physiology). 467:399-413.