Research Programmes
Do you know…
- … the scientists in CEITEC will be researching what happens in the brain when a human has realized that they have made a mistake?
- … there will be nearly 800 scientists in CEITEC?
- … in CEITEC we will be researching how the brain works and why some people are motivated and others are not?
- … thanks to CEITEC most of the diagnostic methods will be cheaper, faster and more comfortable for the patients?
- … 63 research teams will be created in CEITEC?
- … there will be 7 research programmes in CEITEC?
- … there will be more than 1,000 modern instruments in CEITEC?
- … more than 31,000 m2 of new infrastructure will be built in CEITEC?
- … more than 1,500 students will use the CEITEC infrastructure per year?
- … there will be 10 shared laboratories created in CEITEC?
- … CEITEC has 6 partners?
- … work will be carried out on self-cleaning surfaces in CEITEC?
- … CEITEC will co-operate closely with the industrial sector?
- … there will also be international scientists working in CEITEC?
- … CEITEC will support the international mobility of scientists?
- … the scientists in CEITEC are developing a subdermal chip which will analyse some life functions and will inform doctors from a distance?
- … the scientists in CEITEC are working on the development of a device which will enable physiotherapy from a distance?
- … the scientists at CEITEC are working on the development of biosensors?
- … CEITEC will be created in the south-Moravian city of Brno?
Experimental and Applied Neuropsychopharmacology
Prof. MUDr. Alexandra Šulcová, CSc.
Research Group Leader
THEMATIC RESEARCH FOCUS
RESEARCH AREAS
Experimental pharmacology
- Behavioural pharmacology research is focused on neurobiology and effects of drugs (including drugs of abuse: methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabinoids) on motor functioning, emotionality, cognition
- Pharmacokinetic research is focused on biotransformation mostly of psychotropic drugs by cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, their interactions and sex differences
Applied pharmacology
- Analyses of safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy with psychotropics related to patient´s metabolic activity of CYP2D6 and CYP1A2
MAIN OBJECTIVES
- Recognition of cellular and molecular mechanisms of selected nervous disorders.
- Development of new molecular and functional imaging methods and their translation into clinical neuroscience.
- Usage of multimodal approach to the advanced study of cognitive and behavioural functions.
CONTENT OF RESEARCH
Cellular and molecular neurobiology of nerve regeneration and neuropathic pain induction
The endogenous cannabinoid system and its interactions with the limbic dopaminergic pathways will be studied to discover the basic mechanisms of addiction, depression, stress and anxiety.
Principles in neural connectivity underlying normal and pathological brain processing
Within this work package, the research group aims to identify the typically reorganized neural networks in some neuropsychiatric conditions that might be used by us in the future as extremely useful early biological markers of the disease.
Genetics and epigenetics of neuropsychiatric diseases
The analysis of epigenetic changes associated with selected neuropsychiatric disorders. Testing novel drugs for the therapy of neuropsychiatric disorders, analysis of epigenetic and expression changes after treatment.
Mechanisms of CNS adaptation on pathological factors and therapy
The impact of noxious factors on the anatomical, functional and behavioural properties of CNS will be studied. Namely the impact of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dystonia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and drug addiction. Neuromodulation techniques as the quantification of specific neuronal receptor expression and in vivo microdialysis in free moving rodents for the administration of substances and withdrawal of extracellular fluid samples (the impact of the humoral CNS changes will be contextualised with behavioural changes in animal models e.g. bilateral olfactory bulbectomy in rodents, agonistic behaviour). The results of the instrumental investigations will be compared with clinical, neuropsychological and behavioural data and therapy outcome. A search for new therapies will be based on the co-operation of the basic research such as proteomics, animal experiments, disease modelling with clinical data and testing.
KEY RESEARCH EQUIPMENT
PLANNED RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
Technology Units
Behavioural animal model unit
CURRENT RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
Habitest Modular System for I.V. drug self-administration in rats, Coulbourn Instruments; Smart Junior Video Tracking System – Rats and mice Elevated Plus Maze, Harward Apparatus; ActiTrack, Panlab-Harward Apparatus, provides integrated data in terms of rodent activity, position, displacements and rearing; Observer, Noldus Information Technology; system for collection, analysis, presentation and management of observational behavioural data; Luminometer FB 12, Berthold Detection Systems; devices for cellular luminescence/reactive oxygen species measurement; Hematology Analyser MEK 5208, Nihon Kohden; LaboratoryMicroscope Labaphot, Nikon; BASi Microdialysis System – for in vivo rodent cerebral microdialysis; Sunrise-Elisa Spectrophotometer, Columbus; KODAK Gel Logic 100 Imaging System, video-based molecular imaging system providing real-time imaging without the integrated illumination system; VMR non-rebreathing anesthetic delivery system for small animals, Midmark International; UP 100 Universal Perfusion System, Hugo-Sachs Elektronik-Harward Apparatus; devices for perfusing isolated animal organs in-situ or ex-vivo; Cooled Incubator IL W 53 TOP INOX; High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Tecan; Vacuum Manifold SPE 24 with vakuum Pump for sample preparation, filtration, and elution; GFL 6380 Deep Chest Freezer, HELAGO, for storage of cell lines, human, animal tissues, fractions of the blood.
MAIN PROJECTS
- The influence of pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic factors on the efficacy and safety of the first schizophrenia episodes therapy (NS9676), Ministry of Health, 2009-2011, J. Juřica, Masaryk University, T. Kašpárek, University Hospital Brno.
- Integrated bioanalytical technologies for microanalyses and diagnostics with laser induced fluorescence and mass spectrometry coupling (LC06023), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, 2006-2011, Z. Glatz, Masaryk University, L. Fajkusova, University Hospital Brno, F. Foret, Institute of Analytical Chemistry AS CR.
- The Internal Organization and Neurobiological Mechanisms of Functional CNS Systems under Normal and Pathological Conditions (MSM0021622404), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, 2005-2011, I. Rektor, Masaryk University.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- ZENDULKA, O., JURICA, J., SULCOVA, A. The inhibitory effect of quercetin on rat hepatal CYP2D2. Drug metabolism Reviews. 2010, 42(1), p. 73- 74.
- PISTOVCAKOVA, J., DOSTALEK, M., SULCOVA, A., JEZOVA, D. Tiagabine treatment is associated with neurochemical, immune and behavioural alterations in the olfactory bulbectomized rat model of depression. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2007, 40, p. 1-6.
- ZAHRADNIKOVA, L., ZENDULKA, O., JURICA, J., MCCASKEY HADASOVA, E. Gender-dependent influence of bupropion pretreatment on locomotor activity and the activity of hepatic CYP2D2 in rats. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007, 17(4), p. 247-248.
- STEPHENS, N., D., PISTOVCAKOVA, J., WORTHING, L., ATAC, R., J., DAWSON, R., G. Role of GABAA alpha 5-containing receptors in ethanol reward: The effects of targeted gene deletion, and a selective inverse agonist. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2005, 526(1-3), p. 240-250.
- PISTOVCAKOVA, J., MAKATSORI, A., SULCOVA, A., JEZOVA, D. Felbamate reduces hormone release and locomotor hypoactivity induced by repeated stress of social defeat in mice. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005, 15(2), p. 153-158.
EUROPEAN UNION
