Neurobiology Research Unit

Martin Andreas Santini

MSc, PhD student

Scientific interests| Biography | Publications
Awards | Address

Scientific interests

Schizophrenia is a highly disabling chronic disease with devastating consequences for affected individuals and their families. The underlying etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia is still only partly understood. However, antipsychotic drugs blocks a number of G-protein coupled receptors of which the serotonin 2A (5-HT_2A) receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) seems to be important for their clinical effect. Recent research indicates that the 5-HT_2A receptor in the PFC interacts with other neurotransmitter systems, especially dopamine and glutamate. It is our hypothesis that schizophrenia is associated with an inbalance in these interactions. Thus, the main aim of my project is to study how 5-HT_2A receptor neurotransmission and PFC-dependent behavior are affected by dopamine and glutamate. In different in vitro systems we will investigate how dopamine and glutamate affects 5-HT_2A receptor functionality and gene expression. Furthermore, in vivo studies will be utilized to study whether the same interactions modulates PFC-mediated cognitive functions.

Biography

2010 -	PhD Student, NRU and Cimbi
2009 - 2009	Research assistant, NRU and Cimbi
2009	MSc in Human Biology, University of Copenhagen

Publications

Santini MA, Klein AB, El-Sayed M, Ratner C, Knudsen GM, Mikkelsen JD, Aznar S, (2011). Novelty-induced activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (arc) expression in frontal cortex requires Serotonin 2A receptor activation. Neuroscience
Ettrup A, Hansen M, Santini MA, Paine J, Gillings N, Palner M, Lehel S, Herth MM, Madsen J, Kristensen J, Begtrup M, and Knudsen GM, (2011). Radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of a series of substituted 11C-phenethylamines as 5-HT (2A) agonist PET tracers. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 38, 681-693.
Ettrup A, Palner M, Gillings N, Santini MA, Hansen M, Kornum BR, Rasmussen LK, Nagren K, Madsen J, Begtrup M, Knudsen GM, 2010. Radiosynthesis and Evaluation of 11C-CIMBI-5 as a 5-HT2A Receptor Agonist Radioligand for PET. J Nucl Med
Kramer V, Herth MM, Santini MA, Palner M, Knudsen GM, Rösch F (2010). Structural combination of established 5-HT2A receptor ligands: New aspects of binding mode. Chem Biol Drug Design
Klein AB, Williamson R, Santini MA, Clemmensen C, Ettrup A, Rios M, Knudsen GM, Aznar S, (2010). Blood BDNF concentrations reflect brain-tissue BDNF levels across species. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol: 1-7.
Klein AB, Santini MA, Aznar S, Knudsen GM, Rios M, (2010). Changes in 5-HT(2A)-mediated behavior and 5-HT(2A)- and 5-HT(1A) receptor binding and expression in conditional brain-derived neurotrophic factor knock-out mice. Neuroscience
Holm P, Ettrup A, Klein AB, Santini MA, El-Sayed M, Elvang AB, Stensbol TB, Mikkelsen JD, Knudsen GM, Aznar S, (2010). Plaque Deposition Dependent Decrease in 5-HT2A Serotonin Receptor in AbetaPPswe/PS1dE9 Amyloid Overexpressing Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 20, 1201-1213.
Aznar, S., Klein, A. B., Santini, M. A., Knudsen, G. M., Henn, F., Gass, P., and Vollmayr, B. (2010) Aging and depression vulnerability interaction results in decreased serotonin innervation associated with reduced BDNF levels in hippocampus of rats bred for learned helplessness. Synapse 64, 561-565.
Trajkovska, V, Santini, M.A., Marcussen, A.B., Thomsen, M.S., Hansen, H.H., Mikkelsen, J.D., Arneberg, L., Kokaia, M., Knudsen, G.M., and Aznar, S. (2009) BDNF downregulates 5-HT(2A) receptor protein levels in hippocampal cultures. Neurochem Int 55, 697-702.

Awards

Address

Neurobiology Research Unit (NRU) & Cimbi
Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet
Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Phone: +45 3545 6736 or +45 2656 7131
Fax: +45 3545 6713
E-mail: martin.santini#nru.dk