LABORATORY OF PHARMACOLOGICAL NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY (LPNe)

Scientific directions of the laboratory

• Research is oriented on regulatory mechanisms operative in stress response, on negative consequences of stress and on possibilities of their pharmacological modulation. Animal models of depression, selective enhancement of stress hormones, and of increased brain plasticity have been developed. Main attention is given to selected mechanisms present in the brain and peripheral tissues (e.g. markers of brain plasticity and neurogenesis, gene expression), evaluation of neuroendocrine activation, of anxiety and depression-like behaviour. Non-traditional effects of hormones are studied, particularly of aldosterone and oxytocin. In healthy volunteers, noninvasive examination methods have been developed to assess the ability to cope with stress situations.

The most important publications of workers of the Laboratory of pharmacological neuroendocrinology (IF ≥3)

1. Bartanusz V, Jezova D, Alajajian B, Digicaylioglu M: The blood-spinal cord barrier: morphology and clinical implications. Ann Neurol. 70: 194-206, 2011, IF=10.74

2. Elenkov IJ, Kvetnansky R, Hashiramoto A, Bakalov VK, Link AA, Zachman K, Crane M, Jezova D, Rovensky J, Dimitrov MA, Gold PW, Bonini S, Fleisher T, Chrousos GP, Wilder RL: Low- versus high-baseline epinephrine output shapes opposite innate cytokine profiles: presence of Lewis- and Fischer-like neurohormonal immune phenotypes in humans? J Immunol. 181(3):1737-45, 2008, IF=5.84

3. Makatsori A, Duncko R, Schwendt M, Moncek F, Johansson BB, Jezova D: Voluntary wheel running modulates glutamate receptor subunit gene expression and stress hormone release in Lewis rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 28: 702-714, 2003, IF=5.16

4. Eckertova M, Ondrejcakova M, Krskova K, Zorad S, Jezova D: Subchronic treatment of rats with oxytocin results in improved adipocyte differentiation and increased gene expression of factors involved in adipogenesis. Br J Pharmacol. 162: 452-63, 2011, IF=4.92

5. Hlavacova N, Wes PD, Ondrejcakova M, Flynn ME, Poundstone PK, Babic S, Murck H, Jezova D: Subchronic treatment with aldosterone induces depression-like behaviours and gene expression changes relevant to major depressive disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 15: 247-65, 2012, IF=4.69

6. Moncek F, Duncko R, Johansson BB, Jezova D: Effect of environmental enrichment on stress related systems in rats. J. Neuroendocr.16: 423-431, 2004, IF=4.65

Pistovcakova J, Makatsori A, Sulcova A, Jezova D: Felbamate reduces hormone release and locomotor hypoactivity induced by repeated stress of social defeat in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 15: 153-8, 2005, IF=4.20

7. Hlavacova N, Jezova D: Chronic treatment with the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone results in increased anxiety-like behavior. Horm Behav. 54:90-7, 2008, IF=3.99

8. Mlynarik M, Zelena D, Bagdy G, Makara GB, Jezova D: Signs of attenuated depression-like behavior in vasopressin deficient Brattleboro rats. Horm Behav. 51: 395-4052, 2007, IF=3.99

9. Hlavacova N, Bakos J, Jezova D: Eplerenone, a selective mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, exerts anxiolytic effects accompanied by changes in stress hormone release. J Psychopharmacol. 24: 779-86, 2010, IF=3.80

10. Jezova D, Duncko R. Enhancement of stress-induced pituitary hormone release and cardiovascular activation by antidepressant treatment in healthy men. J Psychopharmacol. 16(3):235-40, 2002, IF=3.80

11. Jezova D, Vigas M, Hlavacova N, Kukumberg P. Attenuated neuroendocrine response to hypoglycemic stress in patients with panic disorder. Neuroendocrinology. 92: 112-9, 2010, IF=3.272

12. Ondrejcakova M, Bakos J, Garafova A, Kovacs L, Kvetnansky R, Jezova D. Neuroendocrine and cardiovascular parameters during simulation of stress-induced rise in circulating oxytocin in the rat. Stress. 13: 314-22, 2010, IF=3.21

13. Bakos J, Hlavacova N, Rajman M, Ondicova K, Koros C, Kitraki E, Steinbusch HW, Jezova D: Enriched environment influences hormonal status and hippocampal brain derived neurotrophic factor in a sex dependent manner. Neuroscience 164: 788-97, 2009, IF=3.21

Fig.1. Staff of the Laboratory of pharmacological neuroendocrinology in the year 2011. From left to right: N. Hlaváčová, RNDr., PhD.; J. Blašková, Ing.; M. Pokusa, MSc.; D. Ježová, prof. PharmDr., DrSc.; V. Danevová, MSc.; L. Žilavá; S. Babic, MSc.