Dr Mike Ee Hiok Teo

Visiting Research Fellow

BSc (University of Singapore)

MSc, PhD (University of Adelaide)

Member of Neurobiology Research Group

Mike is currently a Visiting Research Fellow. He was previously a NH&MRC Research Officer with the Department of Anatomy and Histology, Flinders University of South Australia.

At Flinders University, Mike worked with Prof. Ian Gibbins on the autonomic nervous system, with particular interest in the synaptic organisation of the coeliac ganglion. Various techniques, including a combination of stereological and spatial sampling methods with electron microscopic immunohistochemistry and multiple-labelling confocal
microscopy, were employed to examine the distribution of synaptic inputs to neurons in the coeliac ganglion.

Mike’s other research interest includes comparative studies of the vertebrate pineal system. In collaboration with Dr. Bruce Firth, the morphology of the vertebrate pineal complex is examined using electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and vascular injection techniques. The pineal complex of the skink, Tiliqua rugosa, which consists of a parietal (or third) eye and a pineal gland proper, has been examined extensively as the latter appears to represent an intermediate stage in the evolution of the gland, between one that is directly photosensitive to one that is indirectly influenced by photic stimuli.

Recent publications

1. Morris, J.L, Teo E.H and Gibbins, I.L (2005) Immunoreactivity for vesicular glutamate transporter-1 in large vesicles of nerve terminals in spainal cord and autonomic ganglia Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society. 25th Annual Meeting, Perth Convention Centre,JAn. 30 - Feb 2, 2005.
2. Gibbins, I. L., E. H. Teo, Phillip Jobling and J. L. Morris (2003) Synaptic density, convergence and dentritic complexity of prevertebral sympathetic neurons. J. Comp. Neurol., 455 (3): 285 -298.
3. Gibbins, I. L., Phillip Jobling, E. H. Teo, Sue E. Matthew and Judy L. Morris (2003) Heterogeneous expression of SNAP-25 and synaptic vesicle proteins by central and peripheral inputs to sympathetic neurons. J. Comp. Neurol., 459: 25- 43.
   
4. Gibbins, I. L., P. Jobling, J. P. Messenger, E. H. Teo and J. L. Morris (2000) Neuronal morphology and the synaptic organisation of sympathetic ganglia. J. Auton. Nerv. Syst., 81:104 – 109.

Other publications of interest

1. Teo, E. H. and I. L. Gibbins (2000) Length of presynaptic zone does not correlate with synaptic strength in guinea-pig sympathetic ganglia. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society. 20th Annual Meeting, Melbourne Convention Centre, Jan. 30 - Feb. 2, 2000. (abstract)
2. L. Gibbins and E. H. Teo (2000) Dendritic complexity predicts presynaptic bouton density in guinea-pig sympathetic ganglia. Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society. 20th Annual Meeting, Melbourne Convention Centre, Jan. 30 -Feb. 2, 2000.(abstract)
3. Teo, E. H. and Firth, B. T. (2001) The Pineal Gland of the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa: presence of paracrystalline structures in the modified photoreceptor cells. Melatonin and Biological Rhythms Symposium. Adelaide, South Australia, Aug. 21-23. 2001.(abstract)
4. Teo, E. H., C. Carati, B. T. Firth, R. A. Barbour and B. Gannon (1993) The vascularization of the pineal complex in the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa. Anat. Rec., 236: 521 - 536.