Ahmed Eltokhi, MSc, PhD

Education

  • BS, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ain Shams University
  • MSc, Neuroscience, Bonn University, Germany
  • PhD, Biology/Neuroscience, Heidelberg University/Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
  • Postdoctoral Study, Neuroscience, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research
  • Postdoctoral Study, Neuroscience/Pharmacology, University of Washington

Research Interest

Dr. Eltokhi’s lab investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders, focusing primarily on autism and neurological diseases such as epilepsy. His research extends across axonal and synaptic levels, aiming to dissect the complex mechanisms of these conditions and their comorbidities. Using cell culture techniques and rodent models engineered with mutations in key components, including voltage-gated ion channels like the Voltage-gated Sodium channel and synaptic proteins such as SHANK and AMPA receptors—mirroring those identified in patients—Dr. Eltokhi employs a multi-faceted approach, combining behavioral assessments, electrophysiological studies, and molecular biology techniques. The primary goal of Dr. Eltokhi’s lab is to identify shared pathophysiological mechanisms across neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders that can be targeted for therapeutic interventions.

Selected Publications

  • Eltokhi A, Lundstrom BN, Li J, Zweifel LS, Catterall WA, Gamal El-Din TM. Pathogenic gating pore current conducted by autism-related mutations in the NaV1.2 brain sodium channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Apr 9;121(15):e2317769121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2317769121. Epub 2024 Apr 2. PMID: 38564633.
  • Eltokhi A., Bertocchi I., Rozov A., Jensen V., Borchardt T., Taylor A., Proenca CC., Rawlins JNP., Bannerman DM., Sprengel R. Distinct effects of AMPAR subunit depletion on spatial memory. iScience. 2023 Oct 1;26(11):108116. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108116. PMID: 37876813; PMCID: PMC10590979.
  • Eltokhi A, Catterall WA, Gamal El-Din TM. Cell-cycle arrest at the G1/S boundary enhances transient voltage-gated ion channel expression in human and insect cells. Cell Rep Methods. 2023 Sep 25;3(9):100559. doi: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100559. Epub 2023 Aug 18. PMID: 37751687; PMCID: PMC10545908.
  • Pitzer C#, Kurpiers B, Eltokhi A#. Sex Differences in Depression-Like Behaviors in Adult Mice Depend on Endophenotype and Strain. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022 Mar 17;16:838122. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.838122. PMID: 35368297; PMCID: PMC8969904. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Pitzer C#, Kurpiers B, Eltokhi A#. Gait performance of adolescent mice assessed by the CatWalk XT depends on age, strain and sex and correlates with speed and body weight. Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 1;11(1):21372. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00625-8. PMID: 34725364; PMCID: PMC8560926. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Eltokhi A#, Kurpiers B, Pitzer C#. Baseline Depression-Like Behaviors in Wild-Type Adolescent Mice Are Strain and Age but Not Sex Dependent. Front Behav Neurosci. 2021 Oct 7;15:759574. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.759574. PMID: 34690714; PMCID: PMC8529326. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Eltokhi A, Gonzalez-Lozano MA, Oettl LL, Rozov A, Pitzer C, Röth R, Berkel S, Hüser M, Harten A, Kelsch W, Smit AB, Rappold GA, Sprengel R. Imbalanced post- and extrasynaptic SHANK2A functions during development affect social behavior in SHANK2-mediated neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Nov;26(11):6482-6504. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01140-y. Epub 2021 May 21. Erratum in: Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 8;: PMID: 34021263; PMCID: PMC8760046.
  • Eltokhi A#, Kurpiers B, Pitzer C#. Comprehensive characterization of motor and coordination functions in three adolescent wild-type mouse strains. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 22;11(1):6497. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85858-3. PMID: 33753800; PMCID: PMC7985312. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Eltokhi A#, Kurpiers B, Pitzer C#. Behavioral tests assessing neuropsychiatric phenotypes in adolescent mice reveal strain- and sex-specific effects. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 9;10(1):11263. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67758-0. PMID: 32647155; PMCID: PMC7347854. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Peleh T*, Eltokhi A#, Pitzer C#. Longitudinal analysis of ultrasonic vocalizations in mice from infancy to adolescence: Insights into the vocal repertoire of three wild-type strains in two different social contexts. PLoS One. 2019 Jul 31;14(7):e0220238. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220238. Erratum in: PLoS One. 2019 Aug 15;14(8):e0221469. PMID: 31365551; PMCID: PMC6668806. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Berkel S*, Eltokhi A*, Fröhlich H, Porras-Gonzalez D, Rafiullah R, Sprengel R, Rappold GA. Sex Hormones Regulate SHANK Expression. Front Mol Neurosci. 2018 Sep 25;11:337. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00337. PMID: 30319350; PMCID: PMC6167484. *co-first authors.

Click here to see the full list of Dr. Eltokhi’s work.

Grants

  • NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (2023-2025)

Professional Involvement

  • Biophysical Society
  • International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
  • Society for Neuroscience

Contact Dr. Ahmed Eltokhi

eltokhi_a@mercer.edu