Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center
Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research
Neuroimaging Center
Clinical Unit Based Research
Mailman Research Center
Behavioral Genetics Laboratory
Bio-Organic and Natural Products Research Laboratory
Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory
Laboratory of Developmental Neuropharmacology
Genetics Laboratory
Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center
Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience
Laboratory for Translational Neuroscience
Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology
Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory
Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory
Molecular Neuropathology Laboratory
Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory
Neuropharmacology Laboratory
Center for Neuroregeneration Research / Neuroregeneration Laboratories
Neurostatistics Laboratory
Program for Structural and Molecular Neuroscience
Psychiatric Neuroscience Laboratory
Laboratory of Psychiatric and Molecular Neuroscience
Psychology Research Laboratory
Visual Psychophysiology Laboratory
Shervert H. Frazier Research Institute
Clinical Trials
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Administration

MAILMAN RESEARCH CENTER

Picture taken from Trends Pharmacol Sci 2001;22:188-94

Picture used by permission of
Trends Pharmacol Sci 2001;22:188-94
(click to enlarge)

Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology

The Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology (LGN) is interested in studying the functions of GABAA receptor subtypes in the central nervous system using genetically modified mice, which allow us to modulate expression of GABAA receptor subunits in defined neuronal circuits.  We are interested in the role of GABAA receptors in emotional regulation (anxiety, depression), learning and memory, drug abuse, and for the amnestic action of general anesthetics.
In addition, in a separate line of research, we are working on etiological models of schizophrenia, i.e. genetically modified mice which harbor structural genomic variations associated with psychosis.

Major Funding Sources

National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institute of Drug Abuse

Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology

Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology
(click to enlarge)

Personnel

Selected Publications

  1. Rudolph U, Crestani F, Benke D, BrĂĽnig I, Benson JA, Fritschy J-M, Martin JR, Bluethmann H, Möhler H.Benzodiazepine actions mediated by specific γ-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor subtypes. Nature 1999;401:796-800.
  2. Löw K, Crestani F, Keist R, Benke D, Brünig I, Benson JA, Fritschy J-M, Rülicke T, Bluethmann H, Möhler H, Rudolph U.Molecular and neuronal substrate for the selective attenuation of anxiety. Science 2000;290:131-34.
  3. Straub CS, Carlezon WA Jr, Rudolph U Diazepam and cocaine potentiate brain stimulation reward in C57BL/6J mice. Behavioural Brain Research 2010;206:17-20
  4. Tan KR, Brown M, Labouebe G, Yvon C, Creton C, Fritschy JM, Rudolph U, Luescher C Neural basis for the addictive properties of benzodiazepines. Nature 2010;463:769-774
  5. Smith KS, Meloni EG, Myers KM, Van’t Veer A, Carlezon WA Jr, Rudolph U Reduction of fear-potentiated startle by benzodiazepines in C57BL/6J mice. Psychopharmacology, Epub ahead of print, October 5, 2010
  6. Vollenweider I, Smith KS, Keist R, Rudolph U Antidepressant-like properties of a2-containing GABAA receptors. Behavioural Brain Research 2011;217:77-80
  7. Drexler B, Antkowiak B, Engin E, Rudolph U Identification and characterization of anesthetic targets by mouse molecular genetics approaches. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Epub ahead of print December 21, 2010