Mitarbeiter im Fachbereich Biologie
| Sachser, Norbert, Prof. Dr. rer.nat. |  |
| Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Institut für Neuro- und Verhaltensbiologie Badestr. 13 D-48149 Münster Tel: + 49 - 251 - 83 2 3884 Fax: + 49 - 251 - 83 2 3896 E-mail: sachser  net: www.ethologie.de | |
| wissenschaftlicher Werdegang | |
| - Studium der Biologie, Chemie, Soziologie: Universität Bielefeld - Promotion zum Dr. rer. nat.: Universität Bielefeld, Lehrstuhl für Verhaltensphysiologie - Post-doc, Akademischer Rat, Oberassistent: Universität Bayreuth, Lehrstuhl für Tierphysiologie - Habilitation in Zoologie: Universität Bayreuth - Professor für Zoologie/Verhaltensbiologie am INVB der WWU Münster | |
| Lehrschwerpunkte | |
| - Verhaltensbiologie - Behavioural Neuroscience - Angewandte Ethologie (Tierschutz) | |
| Forschungsschwerpunkte | |
| - Stress, Stressvermeidung, Wohlergehen - Gene, Umwelt und Verhalten - Evolution von Paarungs- und Sozialsystemen - Verhaltensbiologie sozialer Beziehungen - Diskurs Bio- und Kulturwissenschaften | |
| ausgewählte Projekte | |
| (1) The Genesis of Social Life and Stress A major part of an individual's environment consists of other members of the same species, which can be defined as his or her "social world". In fact, a majority of human and non-human animals' daily expectations, motivations, and behaviours are directed to encounters with conspecifics. On the one hand, this social world can support good welfare and health (e.g. through the effects of social support). On the other hand, it can result in severe stress (e.g. in the case of social defeat, social instability, or crowding). This project aims to understand the genesis of social life and stress, that is, how they are shaped by ontogeny, domestication and evolution. Our animal model comprises several species of wild and domestic guinea pigs. (1) In the domesticated form we analyse ways in which behaviour and hormonal responses are influenced by previous social experiences during the prenatal and early postnatal phases as well as around puberty. (2) We compare domestic guinea pigs (Cavia aperea f. porcellus) and their wild ancestors (Cavia aperea) to elucidate which features were induced by the process of domestication. (3) We study different species of wild guinea pigs (Cavia aperea, Galea musteloides, Galea monasteriensis) under laboratory conditions as well as in their natural habitats in South America to understand how differences in social and mating systems were brought about by natural selection during the process of social evolution. (2) Environmental Enrichment, Neurodegeneration and Behaviour Stimulation by environmental enrichment (a complex situation in which the individuals encounter various stimuli of different modalities, such as visual, tactile, olfactory and social) has positive effects on brain development and behaviour. Animals living under enriched housing conditions show enhanced learning and memory performance, they display more play and less stereotypic behaviour, and they are less anxious. In addition, enrichment can facilitate recovery from brain injury. Whether or not environmental enrichment has also positive effects in cases of neurodegeneration is largely unexplored. In this project we investigate how the emotional, social and cognitive stimulation provided by an enriched environment can protect against neural degeneration in different transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. We (1) analyze the emotional, cognitive and behavioural consequences of environmental enrichment; (2) assess whether or not sensitive developmental phases for environmental stimulation exist, (3) examine sex-related differences, and (4) elucidate which particular elements of the enrichment are of major importance (social interaction, physical activity, cognitive training). Based on these findings, and in cooperation with colleagues from the medical department, we aim to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the effects of environmental stimulation on neurodegeneration and behaviour. | |
| ausgewählte Publikationen | |
Sachser N. (1998) Of domestic and wild guinea pigs: studies in sociophysiology, domestication, and social evolution. Naturwissenschaften 85: 307-317 Ambree o., U. Leimer, A. Herring, N. Görtz, N. Sachser, M.T. Heneka, W. Paulus, K. Keyvani (2006) Reduction of amyloid angiopathy and Abeta plaque burden after enriched housing in TgCRND8 mice. The American Journal of Pathology 169: 544-552 | |
| ausgewählte Kooperationen | |
Prof. Dr. Jörg T. Epplen: Molekulare Humangenetik, Bochum: Vaterschaftsanalysen | |
