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Stephanie Wördemann
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Joined OCC in 2014
Research Project
The role of synaptic plasticity in prefrontal cortex of mice for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders
Neuroplasticity represents the ability of the brain to react and to adapt to life challenges by modifying the connectivity between neuron and neuronal circuits. One part of neuroplasticity is the synaptic plasticity, which is characterized by neural network adaptations via activity-dependent modifications of the synaptic strength. Dysregulation of plasticity-involved processes can contribute to a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, depression or fear- and stress-related disorders. Short lasting forms as well as long-term potentiation and long-term depression are important mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. For structural and functional reasons synaptic plasticity has been extensively studied in the hippocampus. However, even the less well-studied prefrontal cortex (PFC), which plays a key role in cognitive function and emotional regulation, undergoes dynamic neuronal adaption processes. In regard to the PFC's ability to adapt on environmental changes, the relevance of investigating the synaptic plasticity in PFC becomes particularly compelling. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that epigenetic mechanisms and especially DNA-methylation of relevant candidate genes play a critical role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity.
Epigenetic modifications can change gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. DNA methylation or demethylation is associated with transcriptional silencing/upregulation because it can directly inhibit or promote the binding of transcription factors or regulators. Thus, it appears that notably epigenetic mechanisms enable long-term changes as observed in processes of synaptic plasticity.
For all these reasons, this dissertation project aims to investigate the synaptic plasticity and the underlying epigenetic mechanisms in the PFC of mice. A stress-induced behavioral phenotype with related changes in expression of candidate genes and enhancement or impairment of synaptic transmission and plasticity will be investigated.
Promotion Committee
Prof. Dr. W.Zhang
Prof. Dr. S. Kaiser
Prof. Dr. T. Budde
CV
| *1986 | Münster, Germany |
| 2007–2010 |
Studies in Biology at the University of Bielefeld Bachelor degree in Biology; Thesis: “Annotation and analysis of fluoroquinolon-resistance and virulence factors of the multiresistant pathogen Corynebacterium resistens" Supervisor: Dr. Andreas Tauch |
| 2010-2012 |
Studies in Biology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster Master degree in Biology; Master thesis: “Clinical value of methods for the evaluation of |
| 2013 | Beginning of PhD research project, Institute of Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster |