Detail

Keywords

Amygdala; Animal models; Behavior, Animal; Depression; Hippocampus; Mood Disorders; Neurobiology

Research group(s)

• Animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders
  Members:
  Daniela Pollak

Research interests

My laboratory is interested in studying the neurobiological mechanism underlying psychiatric disorder from the systemic to the molecular level in the mouse model. We are generating and analyzing specific models for depressive disorders and addiction using both environmental as well as genetic manipulations and also studying the interaction between the two factors in the pathophysiology of mental illnesses.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

We are using fully-automated, state of the art equipment for behavioral analysis of mice, including specific tests for anxiety, depression and addiction. Additionally, members of the lab routinely employ all standard molecular biological and biochemical as well as histological methods.

Grants

• Neurobiological underpinnings of depression in acute intermittent porphyria (2017)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-alone project
  Principal Investigator
• STAT3-dependent regulation of serotonin transporter (SERT) function (2015)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-Alone Projects
  Principal Investigator
• Long-term effects of prenatal immune activation on depression-like behaviour in the mouse (2014)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-Alone Projects
  Principal Investigator
• Neurotransmitter transporter in animal models of mood disorders (2010)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-Alone Projects
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Kong, E. et al., 2015. STAT3 controls IL6-dependent regulation of serotonin transporter function and depression-like behavior. Scientific Reports, 5, p.9009. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep09009.
2. Savalli, G. et al., 2014. Diurnal Oscillation of Amygdala Clock Gene Expression and Loss of Synchrony in a Mouse Model of Depression. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 18(5), pp.pyu095-pyu095. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyu095.
3. Khan, D. et al., 2014. Long-term effects of maternal immune activation on depression-like behavior in the mouse. Transl Psychiatry, 4(2), p.e363. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/tp.2013.132.
4. Monje, F.J. et al., 2011. Constant Darkness Induces IL-6-Dependent Depression-Like Behavior through the NF-'
5. Pollak, D.D. et al., 2008. An Animal Model of a Behavioral Intervention for Depression. Neuron, 60(1), pp.149-161. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2008.07.041.