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Neurochemistry 

Group members:

  • Santiago Ambrosio Viale, Professor Titular of the Biochemistry Unit and responsible of the group.
  • Blanca Cutillas Arroyo, Professora Titular of the Universitary School of Nursery. 
  • Julia Reiriz, Professora Titular of the Universitary School of Nursery. 
  • Cristina Gómez, doctoral student.

Research fields:

Study of animal models of nigrostriatal neurodegeneration as an approach to the Parkinson's disease.
In vivo: We use rats lesioned at different tracts of the nigrostriatal pathway, by different stereotaxic procedures, mainly by 6-OHDA and MPP+. We studied in these rats the neurochemical and metabolic progression of the lesion by analysis of neurotransmitters and metabolites in the striatal tissue, in microdialysis samples and by immunocytochemistry. Different pharmacological approaches have been assayed, we are testing now the effect of the caspases inhibitors. We are also studying the effect of foetal mesencephalic cell grafts into the lesioned striatum and the role of different neurotrophic factors on the survival and function  of the  implanted cells.
In vitro: We use incubations of striatal slices, synaptosomes, free mitochondrial suspensions and foetal cell suspensions to study the effects of different neurotoxic compounds and neurotrophic factors. 
Primary cultures: We use rat mesencephalic primary cultures.
Cell lines cultures: We are using the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and C17.2 neural stem cells cultures. 

Finnancial sources:

"Mechanisms of neurochemical recovery in the cerebral grafts of rats lesioned with  MPP+ or with 6-OHDA" (FIS 95/0188, 1995-97). 

"Molecular mechanisms of the TGFß and BMPs trophic factors in the dopaminergic neurons" (FIS 00/1127, 2000-2002). 

  • Results (submitted)
  • Dopamine effects on SH-SY5Y cells. Proteomic Array
  • Publications:
    • "Low concentrations of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. C. Gómez, J. Reiriz, M. Piqué, J. Gil, I. Ferrer, S.

      • Ambrosio. (2001). J. Neurosci. Res. 63: 421-428 PDF
       
    • "Lymphocyte populations in Parkinson’s disease and in rat models of  parkinsonism". Jordi Bas , Matil Calopa , Mariona Mestre , David G. Mollev , Blanca Cutillas , Santiago Ambrosio , Enric Buendia. (2001) J. Neuroimmunol. 113  146–152  PDF
    • "6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase expression in rat brain during development". N.Goren, A.Manzano, LL.Riera, S.Ambrosio, F.Ventura, R.Bartrons. Mol. Brain Res. 75: 138-142 (2000). (PDF)
    • "MPP+-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is potentiated by dopamine". J. Boada, B.Cutillas, T.Roig, J.Bermúdez, S.Ambrosio. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 268: 916-920 (2000). (PDF)
    • "Increased survival of dopaminergic neurons in striatal grafts of fetal ventral mesencephalic cells exposed to neurotrophin-3 or glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor". M.Espejo, B.Cutillas, E.Arenas, S.Ambrosio. Cell Transplant. 9, 45-53 (2000)
    • "Bone morphogenetic protein-2 promotes dissociated survival and differentiation effects in cultured ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons". J.Reiriz, M.Espejo, F.Ventura, S.Ambrosio, J.Alberch. J. Neurobiology 38: 161-170 (1999). 
    • "Degeneration and gliosis in rat retina and central nervous system following 3,3'-iminidipropionitrile exposure".A.Seoane, M.Espejo, M.Pallàs, E.Rodríguez-Farré, S.Ambrosio, J.Llorens. Brain Res. 833: 258-271 (1999). 
    • "Caspase inhibition protects nigral neurons against 6-OHDA-induced retrograde degeneration". B.Cutillas, M.Espejo, J.Gil, I.Ferrer, S.Ambrosio. NeuroReport 10: 2605-2608 (1999). 
    • "Exposure of foetal mesencephalic cells to bone morphogenetic protein-2 enhances the survival of dopaminergic neurones in rat striatal grafts". M.Espejo, B.Cutillas, F.Ventura, S.Ambrosio. Neurosci. Lett. 270: 1-4 (1999).  PDF
    • "Regulació de la diferenciació cel.lular per proteïnes morfogenètiques òssies (BMP)".F.Ventura, S.Ambrosio,M.Espejo, T.López, E.Chalaux. Treballs SCB 49: 29-40 (1999).
    • "7-Nitroindazole prevents dopamine depletion caused by low concentrations of MPP+ in rat striatal slices". B.Cutillas, M.Espejo, S.Ambrosio. Neurochem. Int. 33: 35-40 (1998). 
    • "Intrastriatal grafts of fetal mesencephalic cell suspensions in MPP+-lesioned rats: a microdialysis study in vivo". M.Espejo, S.Ambrosio, J.Llorens, B.Cutillas. Neurochem. Res. :1217-1223 (1998). 
    • "Intracerebral applications of MPP+: why so many different responses versus MTP-treatment?". S.Ambrosio, A.Espino, B.Cutillas, M.Espejo, R.Bartrons. Curr. Top. Neurochem. 1: 113-121 (1997). 
    • "MPP+ toxicity in rat striatal slices: relationship between non-selective effects and free radical production". S.Ambrosio, A.Espino, B.Cutillas and R.Bartrons. Neurochem. Res. 21: 73-78 (1996) 
    • R "Early effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on foetal rat mesencephalic cell suspensions".M.Espejo, T.Roig, B.Cutillas, J.Bermúdez, R.Bartrons and S.Ambrosio. Neusrosci. Lett. 221: 1-4 (1996).
    • "MPP+ toxicity in rat striatal slices: relationship between non-selective effects and free radical production". S.Ambrosio, A.Espino, B.Cutillas and R.Bartrons. Neurochem. Res. 21: 73-78 (1996). 
    • "Early effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on foetal rat mesencephalic cell suspensions". M.Espejo, T.Roig, B.Cutillas, J.Bermúdez, R.Bartrons and S.Ambrosio. Neurosci. Lett. 221: 1-4 1996). 

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    Comments: ambrosio@bellvitge.bvg.ub.es   Last changes : january 31,  2001.