Detail

Keywords

Anxiety Disorders; Behavior; Biological Psychiatry; Biophysics; Electrophysiology; Learning; Memory; Memory Disorders; Neuronal Plasticity; Neurosciences

Research interests

Our research employs murine-based genetic and disease models, behavioral tests, and both in vitro and in vivo biophysical approaches to investigate molecular components and functional processes regulating neuronal circuits involved in emotional and cognitive functions.

• Our work places special emphasis on studying synaptic dynamics using electrophysiological techniques, which allow us to examine in real-time synaptic modifications at single cell and circuit levels.
• We study effects of exogenous (natural and synthetic) compounds as well as endogenously produced biomolecules on different forms of synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), presynaptic-dependent plasticity, and metaplasticity.
• Biochemical methods, such as western blotting and proteomics, help us identifying signaling molecules regulating synaptic functions, while molecular biology tools like gene knockout models help us elucidating gene roles in emotional and cognitive functions.
• Behavioral studies in murine models (using assays like the Morris water task, hole-board, and fear conditioning) link genetic changes and pharmacological interventions to cognitive outcomes.

These studies, despite unequivocal differences from human experiences, provide valuable insights into the human nervous system function in health and disease.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

Electrophysiology Techniques

•    In vitro Patch-Clamp & Intracellular Recordings
•    Ex vivo Extracellular Recordings in acute Brain Slices
•    Simultaneous Patch-Clamp/Optogenetic Activation
•    In vivo Electrophysiology

Cellular & Tissue Techniques

•    Cell lines & Primary dissociated neuronal cultures
•    Cell Transfections
•    Acute Brain Slices preparations & Organotypic Slice Cultures

Molecular Techniques

•    Western Blot
•    PCR

Imaging Techniques

•    Fluorescence Microscopy

Behavioral Methods

•    Running Wheel
•    Water Maze of Morris
•    Elevated Plus Maze
•    Open Field
•    Y-Maze
•    Hole-Board Test
•    Fear Conditioning

Grants

• The role of microRNAs in learned safety (2018)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Einzelprojekte
  Principal Investigator
• Podoplanin: a new regulator of synaptic plasticity in the brain (2015)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Einzelprojekte
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Kouhnavardi, S. et al. (2023) ‘miRNA-132/212 Deficiency Disrupts Selective Corticosterone Modulation of Dorsal vs. Ventral Hippocampal Metaplasticity’, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(11), p. 9565. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119565.
2. Kouhnavardi, S. et al. (2022) ‘A Novel and Selective Dopamine Transporter Inhibitor, (S)-MK-26, Promotes Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Restores Effort-Related Motivational Dysfunctions’, Biomolecules, 12(7), p. 881. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12070881.
3. Stojanovic, T. et al. (2020) ‘Nicotine abolishes memory‐related synaptic strengthening and promotes synaptic depression in the neurogenic dentate gyrus of miR‐132/212 knockout mice’, Addiction Biology, 26(2). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.12905.
4. Cicvaric, A. et al. (2020) ‘Podoplanin Gene Disruption in Mice Promotes in vivo Neural Progenitor Cells Proliferation, Selectively Impairs Dentate Gyrus Synaptic Depression and Induces Anxiety-Like Behaviors’, Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 13. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2019.00561.
5. Cicvaric, A. et al. (2018) ‘Enhanced synaptic plasticity and spatial memory in female but not male FLRT2-haplodeficient mice’, Scientific Reports, 8(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22030-4.