LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University ...

LVR-KLINIKUM DÜsseLDORF – hOsPITaL OF The heINRIch-heINe UNIVeRsITY DÜsseLDORF
Düsseldorf, the hypothesis was investigated that several
atypical antipsychotic drugs influence adipogenesis at a
cell-biological level. Initial results show that olanzapine and
risperidone enhance the differentiation and lipid storage
of the pre-adipocytes. However, aripiprazole inhibits
differentiation. This effect was also found in patients
receiving co-medication with clozapine and aripiprazole.
Lithium chloride had no effect on adipogenesis.
Investigations into the molecular pathophysiology of
neurogenesis during therapy with psychotropic drugs
U. Henning and C. Luckhaus
Project period: from 2005
Financing: Department’s research budget
Neurobiological concepts of the pathogenesis of depression
state that neurogenesis in the hippocampus may play
a central role in improving the disease course. Animal
experiments could show that an increased serotonin level
activates neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Contrarily,
stress leads to inhibition. In addition, neurogenesis can be
stimulated through drug components (such as lithium). It
is supposed that these agents enhance the production of
growth factors by regulating the expression of transcription
factors. In order to test drug effects on neurogenesis in
the CNS, we would like to establish a murine in vitro cell
model composed of hippocampal neurones and glial cells.
Of specific interest is the question of how far astrocytes
contribute to the metabolisation of psychotropic drugs
and thereby influence the activity of drug components. For
initial pilot investigations, we produced primary cell cultures
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from hippocampus neurones from adult mice in the animal
experiments section of the Heinrich-Heine University,
Düsseldorf, and cultivated these cells in the department’s
own research laboratory. In order to increase the purity and
yield of these native cells and, in particular, to conserve the
vitality of the neurones and astrocytes in long-term culture,
neurone and glial cells from neonatal mice were used in
cell culture with the support of the Institute for Neuroand
Sensory Physiology of the Heinrich-Heine University,
Düsseldorf.
The nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in
B-lymphoblasts: investigation of receptor regulation
during nicotine exposure as a correlation of nicotine
addiction in healthy persons vs. persons with
schizophrenia
U. Henning, S. Ferrea, C. Luckhaus
Project period: from 2006
Financing: Research Commission of the Faculty of Medicine
of the Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf
Secondary illnesses of nicotine dependence are the most
frequent causes of premature death in high-income
countries, so that early diagnosis and targeted therapies of
nicotine dependence represent a significant future target.
The biological mechanisms of nicotine dependence are,
however, still little understood, although genetic disposition
factors apparently play a considerable predisposing
role. The nicotine dependence rates of around 80% in
individuals with schizophrenia are clearly higher than
in the population in general (20-30%). Joint biological
Microscopy of cell cultures in a
micro-electrode array