P3TN (the French acronym for “Preclinical Physiology and Pharmacology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders”) is a newly created group of research, composed of scientists sharing a common interest for neuropharmacology as a full discipline of Neurosciences. Our team is principally interested in understanding the basic mechanisms underlying the function of neuromodulatory systems, as well as the interrelations existing between them in normal conditions and in animal models of neuropsychiatric/neurological disorders. An important focus is brought to the study of monoaminergic neurotransmission, particularly through the use of in vivo neuropharmacological approaches.
One of our main axes of research addresses the possibility of developing new strategies for the treatment of mood disorders, mostly through the use of serotonergic-based agents such as 5-HT4 receptor agonists, or 5-HT2 receptor agonists including hallucinogenic drugs. The team also studies the preclinical efficacy of iron chelators in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, as well the mechanisms of action of L-DOPA. Still, the team covers aspects larger than pure preclinical pharmacology, as neurodevelopmental issues in mouse models of Huntington disease and the characterization of neuropeptides function in invertebrates are also part of our thematics.
The techniques we use range from molecular biology to behavioral models (stress, anxiety, depression and locomotion), encompassing the neurochemistry of monoamines and amino acid neurotransmitters (in vivo microdialysis and post-mortem tissue analyses), in vivo electrophysiology (field potentials, single-cell, microiontophoresis) and immunohistochemistry.
Team composition
- Philippe De Deurwardère, Pr-CE UBordeaux, Group co-leader
- Guillaume Lucas, CR-CN INSERM, Group co-leader
- Anne-Émilie Allain, IR2 CNRS
- Maurice Garret, DR1 CNRS
- Valérie Lemaire-Mayo, MCU-CN UBordeaux
- Umberto Spampinato, Pr Émérite UBordeaux
- Jan Veenstra, Pr-CE UBordeaux