CTS510: Neuropsychopharmacology and psychobiology research group

Submitted by francisco.grimaldi on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 14:14
University
Faculty/school/department
FACULTY OF EDUCATION SCIENCES/ PSYCHOLOGY/ PSYCHOBIOLOGY
Size of the team
number of researchers number of supporting staff number of PhD students
17
0
0
PI
PI name
ESTHER BERROCOSO DOMINGUEZ
PI bio

Professor of Psychobiology, University of Cádiz. Bachelor of Pharmacy (2000, University of Seville) and PhD from the University of Cádiz 2007. During this training period I did several research stays at the Faculty of Medicine-University of the Basque Country and the INSERM unit 288-University Pierre et Marie Curie de Paris, as well as in the R&D department of the Grünenthal GmbH (Germany). After defending my Doctoral Thesis in a European format (Extraordinary Prize, 2007), I joined Prof. McNaughton's research group (University of Cambridge) thanks to obtaining an EU Intra-European Marie Curie contract (FP7). Subsequently, I rejoined the University of Cádiz as a Temporary Substitute Professor and with a Marie Curie Reincorporation contract. I currently direct the Research Group in Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychobiology (CTS-510) and I am a Co-Principal Investigator of Group G18 of the Center for Biomedical Research Network of the Carlos III Health Institute in the Area of ​​Mental Health, CIBER de Mental Health (CIBERSAM ). I am also part of the Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA).

Contact person and e-mail
Contact person
ESTHER BERROCOSO DOMINGUEZ
Contact person e-mail
WWW
Short description of research profile

 

STUDYING THE ACTION OF PSYCHO-DRUGS IN ANIMAL MODELS OF DEPRESSION AND PAIN IN KNOCKOUT MICE FOR THE MU-OPIOID RECEPTOR AND IN KNOCKOUT MICE FOR THE NFAT TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR .; STUDY THE COOPERATION OF SYNERGIC MECHANISMS BETWEEN OPIOIDS.

Research area
Publications

Representative publications

1. Chemogenetic Silencing of the Locus Coeruleus-Basolateral Amygdala Pathway Abolishes Pain-Induced Anxiety and Enhanced Aversive Learning in Rats. Llorca-Torralba M, Suárez-Pereira I, Bravo L, Camarena-Delgado C, Garcia-Partida JA, Mico JA, Berrocoso E Biological Psychiatry   (2019) Vol: 85. Pgs: 1021-1035
2. Activation of AMPA Receptors Mediates the Antidepressant Action of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Infralimbic Prefrontal Cortex. Jiménez-Sánchez L, Castañé A, Pérez-Caballero L, Grifoll-Escoda M, López-Gil X, Campa L, Galofré M, Berrocoso E, Adell A Cereb Cortex. 2016 Jun;26(6):2778-2789
3. Deep brain stimulation electrode insertion and depression: Patterns  of activity and modulation by analgesics Perez-Caballero L, Soto-Montenegro ML, Hidalgo-Figueroa M, Mico JA, Desco M, Berrocoso E. Brain Stimul. 2018 Nov - Dec;11(6):1348-1355
4. Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex on the noradrenergic system in rats Torres-Sanchez S, Perez-Caballero L, Mico JA, Celada P, Berrocoso E Brain Stimul. 2018 Jan - Feb;11(1):222-230
5. Single oral dose of cannabinoid derivate loaded PLGA nanocarriers relieves neuropathic pain for eleven days Berrocoso E, Rey-Brea R, Fernández-Arévalo M, Micó JA, Martín-Banderas L. Nanomedicine. 2017 Nov;13(8):2623-2632

Link to extended list of publication

Technology Expertise

1) Animal models of disease: These include pharmacologic-, neurodevelopmental and genetically-induced alterations in rodents developing phenotypes resembling either individual or multiple symptoms associated with particular neurologic or psychiatric disorders (pain, depresssion, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism..)
2) Animal Behavior and Other In Vivo Assays:  Behavioral tests in rodents, electrophysiology,  modulation of gene expression in rodent brain (DREADD (Designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs))
3)Molecular and Cellular Biology: Quantitative RT-PCR system, Protein analysis (ELISA, Western blotting), Histopathology,  Immunohistochemistry, Neuronal cultures derived from human olfactory neuroepithelium