Expertise and current research performed: The Department for Pharmacology is entrusted with the education of medical Students in Pharmacology and postgraduate scientific training of MD and PhD students and postdocs. There is high expertise in the evaluation of clinical drug actions (clinical trials). The Department has highly recognized expertise in the field of neurochemistry, notably the constitution of chromafin and synaptic vesicles, central and peripheral actions of aminergic and peptidergic systems, the GABA-ergic system (in particular GABA_A receptors, constitution of GABA_A receptors) and its functioning in the hippocampus. Lasting and internationally recognized scientific interest in animal models of epilepsy and molecular mechanisms in epileptogenesis (coordination of HFSP project 1999 to 2003). The current research activities performed include: 1) Epileptogenesis: GABA-ergic and peptidergic systems in animal models of epilepsy and in surgically resected tissue of epilepsy patients. 2) Role of NPY in anxiety and stress (conditional NPY receptor knock out mouse models) 3) Basic circuitries in the amygdala involved in fear 4) Promotor analysis and functional characterization of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the rat brain 5) Molecular and functional characterization of NESP55, a novel genomically imprinted secretory protein.

Facilities/Equipment: The Department is equipped with an animal facility, molecular biology, cell culture and histochemistry labs (including fluorescence microscopes, centrifuges, incubators, HPLC systems, PCR, Gamma and Beta counters, stereotactic instruments for surgery in rats and mice). The Institute has allowances and are equipped for animal experimentation and working with various isotopes.

Personnel involved in the project

Principal investigator: Gunther Sperk (M). MS (Pharmacy), Ph.D. (Biochemistry), Professor (Pharmacology), Vice chairman of Department, not funded by project. Working since 25 years in experimental Epilepsy Research. Major research interests: molecular mechanisms in epileptogenesis, CNS GABA systems, GABA_A receptors, neuropeptides, aminergic systems in CNS.

Meinrad Drexel (M). MSci (Biology), not funded by project. Research interest: animal models of epilepsy, morphological and biochemical plasticity; immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization. Anna Wieselthaler (F), not funded by project. Degree as Medical Assistant, Main expertises. immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay, HPLC. Elisabeth Gasser (F). Degree as Medical Assistant, main expertise: in situ hybridization, receptor autoradiography. Technician, to be identified. Immunohistochemistry, in situ-hybridization.

Recent relevant publications/patents

1.        Nishimura, T. (2005) Altered expression of GABA_A and GABA_B receptor subunit mRNAs in the hippocampus after kindling and electrically induced status epilepticus. Neuroscience 134, 691-704.

2.        Bandtlow, C.E. (2004) Increased expression of Nogo-A in hippocampal neurons of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Eur J Neurosci 20, 195-206.

3.        Pirker, S. (2003) Increased expression of GABA_A receptor Beta-subunits in the hippocampus of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 62, 820-834.

4.        Pirker, S. (2001) Chromogranins as markers of altered hippocampal circuitry in temporal lobe epilepsy. Ann Neurol 50, 216-226.

5.        Furtinger, S. (2001). Plasticity of Y1 and Y2 receptors and neuropeptide Y fibers in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. J Neurosci 21, 5804-5812.