About us

Our goal is to identify, at systems-, cellular- and molecular levels, pathways and mechanisms that regulate and coordinate autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune responses to internal and external stress challenges at the hypothalamic level.

Neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus receive afferent neural inputs from all sensory modalities of the central nervous system and express receptors for

circulating signaling molecules such as steroid hormones, metabolic- and immune signals. Hypothalamic neurons are in the position to integrate this information and to generate a relevant output command to neuronal and humoral effectors in response to various external and internal stimuli. These functions are all represented in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, where neurosecretory neurons of the medial dorsal parvocellular subdivision supply corticotropin-releasing hormone and various other neuropeptides to the pituitary portal circulation to initiate the neuroendocrine stress cascade, magnocellular neurosecretory cells that respond to osmotic challenges and autonomic projection neurons that give rise to long descending pathways to the brain stem and spinal cord.

Using molecular biological techniques, expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) and arginine vasopressin (Avp) genes are studied in vivo. Cells and circuitries, which are recruited in response to various physical, psychological and immune challenges are mapped using functional anatomical methods.

Cell-type specific chemogenetic tools are used to assess functional impact of hypothalamic CRH neuron population and viral tracing methods are used to reveal their central and peripheral connections.

Another interest in our Laboratory is the connection between gut microbiome, enteric nervous system and central nervous system with a special focus on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. The relationship between these compartments have a significant impact in psychiatric diseases such as anxiety, depression, autism and PTSD.

We are committed to translate our basic findings to clinical practice by developing psychobiotics with which to modulate stress-related brain circuits in health and disease. Further aim of our Lab is to construct designer probiotics for targeted clinical use.