Research Projects

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
CharitéCentrum 2 für Grundlagenmedizin
Institut für Integrative Neuroanatomie

Abteilung Elektronenmikroskopie und molekulare Neuroanatomie

Anatomy

AG neuronal circuits
of emotional networks

T. Weiß
R. Bernard
R. W. Veh
I. Wolter

Our group is interested in the understanding of neuronal connections and the detailed analysis of signal transduction cascades (ion channels, transmitter systems, G-proteins) within identified neuronal circuits. Predominantly, we investigate such connections that are likely to be involved in psychomotor and emotional processes and may be disturbed in neuropsychiatric disorders. The habenular complex with its inputs and its specific projections particularly to the ventral tegmental area and the dorsal and median raphe system represents the center of our interest.
Employing morphological and immunocytochemical criteria several individual subnuclei have been identified and delineated within the habenular complex of the rat. Neuronal tracing techniques at the light and electron microscopic level are used to detect and characterize the specific neuronal connections of the habenular subnuclei. Individual neurons representing origin or target of habenular circuits are electrophysiologically characterized in acute brain slices, visualized after filling with suitable markers (neurobiotin, lucifer yellow), and analyzed with respect to cellular morphology and to subregional localization within the habenular complex.
From our experiments we expect an increased understanding of the biology of neuronal circuits that may be involved in psychomotor and/or emotional processes. This will provide the basis to investigate, whether those circuits are affected in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders and human disease.