Neurobiology sector

Role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in synaptic plasticity processes both in physiological and pathological conditions:

This project addresses the issue of how nicotine acetylcholine receptors regulate synaptic transmission and activity-dependent plasticity processes in the immature hippocampus. In particular we are interested in investigating how the cholinergic system modulates a particular set of GABAergic interneurons containing somatostatin (O-LM). These interneurons pace a large number of principal cells and are responsible for rhythmic oscillations believed to be the functional substrate of high cognitive functions. We are also interested to see how nicotine modulates synaptic efficacy in an animal model of neurodegeneration (AD11 mice developed by the group of A. Cattaneo at SISSA). These mice chronically deprived of NGF display a neurodegenerative pathology associated with a deficit of the cholinergic function which closely resembles that found in Alzheimer Disease patients.