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| Departments and Laboratories: |
 
 
"Collegium Novum" of the Jagiellonian University (Cracow)
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Department of Neurobiology
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| Scope of Research
| Methods
| Cooperation
| Research Staff |
Head: Prof. Andrzej Pilc
Phone: (+48 12) 66 23 284
E-mail: nfpilc@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Scope of Research
- studies on central effects of stimulation/antagonism of metabotropic glutamate receptors;
- studies on the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs at the receptor and postreceptor level, including second messengers and protein kinases;
- studies on the appearance and function of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in brain structures;
- interaction between NPY or CRF and catecholamines or excitatory amino acids in the cortex, amygdala or hippocampus;
- the role of monoamines in the regulation of NPY or CRF expression in the cortex, amygdala or hippocampus;
- studies on the role of NPY or CRF in the anxiolytic/anxiogenic action of glutamatergic ligands;
- studies on the neuroprotective role of NPY and metabotropic glutamate receptor ligands in vitro and in vivo;
- the role of interaction between metal ions (Zn, Mg) and neurotransmission in the pathophysiology and treatment of affective disorders (animal and human studies).
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Methods
- Behavioural:
simple behavioral tests for the evaluation of the antidepressant or anxiolytic effects of drugs (Porsolt's test; tail suspension test; olfactory bulbectomy; passive avoidance test; open field test; plus-maze test; locomotor activity); stereological injections of substances into the brain structures.
- Biochemical:
receptor binding assay;
receptor autoradiography;
assessment of second messengers: cyclic AMP and inositol phosphates;
assessment of nitric oxide activity;
assay of protein kinases including PKA, PKC and CamKII;
the Western blot analysis of protein expression in brain structures.
- Tissue cell culture:
cultures of astrocytes and neurons; measurements of cell death and viability (LDH and caspase-3).
- Morphological analysis:
immunohistochemistry;
in situ hybridization;
stereological counting of neurons;
histology.
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International Cooperation
The Department cooperates with:
- the Department of Biology, University of Padova (Italy)
- - studies on the action of metal ions in the brain;
- the Department of Psychiatry, Mississippi University, Jackson (USA)
- - examination of the glutamatergic ligands;
- the Novartis Pharma, Basel (Switzerland); DOV Pharmaceuticals, New Jersey (USA)
- - studies on the role of metabotropic receptors in the brain.
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Research Staff:
PhD Students:
Engineers, Technicians, and Other Employees:
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