A5085793298- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Congenital heart defects research
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Infant Health and Development
- Neurological disorders and treatments
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
Italian Institute of Technology
2015-2024
Sapienza University of Rome
2008-2012
Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives
2006
Several synaptic genes predisposing to autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) have been identified. Nonsense and missense mutations in the SYN1 gene encoding for Synapsin I identified families segregating idiopathic epilepsy ASD genetic mapping analyses variations SYN2 as significantly contributing predisposition. Synapsins (Syn I/II/III) are a multigene family of vesicle-associated phosphoproteins playing multiple roles development, transmission plasticity. Lack SynI and/or SynII triggers strong...
Highlights•Arc genetic disruption recapitulates schizophrenia-relevant behavioral abnormalities•Arc leads to hypoactive PFC dopamine (DA) and hyperactive striatal DA system•Hypo-PFC hyper-striatal mediates cognitive motor changes, respectively•Arc is a convergence point for genes implicated in schizophrenia riskSummaryHuman studies have recently suggested that the postsynaptic activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) complex signal several schizophrenia. However, functional...
Social interactions are made of complex behavioural actions that might be found in all mammalians, including humans and rodents. Recently, mouse models increasingly being used preclinical research to understand the biological basis social-related pathologies or abnormalities. However, reliable flexible automatic systems able precisely quantify social multiple mice still missing. Here, we present a system built on two components. A module accurately track position interacting from videos,...
Current protocols for in vitro differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate dopamine (DA) neurons are laborious and time-expensive. In order accelerate the overall process, we have established a fast protocol by expressing developmental transcription factors ASCL1, NURR1, LMX1A. With this method, were able mature functional dopaminergic as few 21 days, skipping all intermediate steps inducting selecting embryoid bodies rosette-neural precursors. Strikingly,...
Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions with diverse aetiologies, all characterized by common core symptoms such as impaired social skills and communication, well repetitive behaviour. Cell adhesion molecules, receptor tyrosine kinases associated downstream signalling have been strongly implicated in both neurodevelopment autism disorders. We found that downregulation of the cell molecule NEGR1 or kinase fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGFR2) similarly affects neuronal...
Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has a potent action in promoting the survival of dopamine (DA) neurons. Several studies indicate that increasing GDNF levels may be beneficial for treatment Parkinson's disease (PD) by reducing neurodegeneration DA Despite plethora preclinical showing efficacy PD animal models, its application humans remains questionable poor and side effects due to uncontrolled, ectopic expression. Here we took advantage SINEUPs, new class antisense long...
Genetic variations in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) that modulate cortical dopamine have been associated with pleiotropic behavioral effects humans and mice. Recent data suggest some of these may vary among sexes. However, the specific brain substrates underlying COMT sexual dimorphisms remain unknown. Here, we report genetically driven reduction enzyme activity increased thickness prefrontal cortex (PFC) postero-parieto-temporal male, but not female adult mice humans. Dichotomous...
Abstract Antipsychotics are the most widely used medications for treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. While such drugs generally ameliorate positive symptoms, clinical responses highly variable in terms negative symptoms and cognitive impairments. However, predictors individual have been elusive. Here, we report a pharmacogenetic interaction related to core dysfunction patients with schizophrenia. We show that genetic variations reducing dysbindin-1 expression can identify...
Recent evidence demonstrated that dopamine within the nucleus accumbens mediates consolidation of both associative and nonassociative memories. However, specific contribution subregions, core shell, D1 D2 receptors subtypes has not been yet clarified. The aim this study was, therefore, to directly compare effect receptor blockade shell subregions on memory consolidation. Using one-trial inhibitory avoidance task in CD1 mice, we SCH 23390 (vehicle, 12.5, 25, 50 ng/side) administration core,...
Abstract The catechol- o -methyltransferase ( COMT ) genetic variations produce pleiotropic behavioral/neuroanatomical effects. Some of these effects may vary among sexes. However, the developmental trajectories -by-sex interactions are unclear. Here we found that extreme reduction, in both humans (22q11.2 deletion syndrome Met) and mice −/−), was associated to cortical thinning only after puberty females. Molecular biomarkers, such as tyrosine hydroxylase, Akt neuronal/cellular counting,...
G protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 6 (GRK6) belongs to a family of kinases that phosphorylate GPCRs. GRK6 levels were found be altered in Parkinson's Disease (PD) and D(2) dopamine receptors are supersensitive mice lacking (GRK6-KO mice). To understand how modulates the behavioral manifestations deficiency responses L-DOPA, we used three approaches model PD GRK6-KO mice: 1) cataleptic response haloperidol; 2) introducing mutation an acute absolute deficiency, DDD mice; 3) hemiparkinsonian...