Research Interests

Alcohol is the most widespread drug of abuse in the world. Although the mesolimbic dopamine system is generally believed to play a pivotal role in the acute rewarding action of alcohol, the neuroadaptations in this system after chronic alcohol exposure are not fully understood. My current research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the hypodopaminergic state after chronic alcohol exposure, which may contribute to the development of alcohol dependence. In particular, I am studying changes in inhibitory neuromodulation of dopamine neurons via two types of receptors (GABAB and D2 dopamine receptors) using mice repeatedly injected with ethanol. I perform whole-cell patch-clamp recording in brain slices to address this question. I hope my research will lead to the development of better treatment strategies for alcoholism by identifying the critical neuroadaptation in the dopaminergic circuit.

Publications

Perra S, Pillolla G, Luchicchi A, Pistis AM (2008). Alcohol inhibits spontaneous activity of basolateral amygdala projection neurons in the rat: involvement of the endocannabinoid system. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 32(3):443-9.

Castelli MP, Piras P, D'Agostino A, Pibiri F, Perra S, Gessa GL, Maccarrone M, Pistis M (2007). Dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system in adult rats prenatally treated with the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55, 212-2. Eur J Pharmacol. 14;573(1-3):11-9

Pillolla G, Melis M, Perra S, Muntoni AL, Gessa GL and Pistis M (2007). Medial forebrain bundle stimulation evokes endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of ventral tegmental area dopamine neuron firing in vivo. Psychopharmacology: 191(3):843-53.

Melis M, Pillolla G, Di Marzo V, Minassi A, Perra S, Muntoni AL, Lutz B, Gessa GL, Marsicano G and Pistis M (2006). Protective activation of the endocannabinoid system during ischemia in dopamine neurons. Neurobiolical Disease: 24(1):15-27.

Perra S, Pillolla G, Melis M, Muntoni AL, Gessa GL, Pistis M (2005). Involvement of the endogenus cannabinoid system in the effects of alcohol in the mesolimbic reward circuit: electrophysiological evidence in vivo. Psychopharmacology 183(3): 368-377.

Pistis M, Muntoni AL, Pillolla G, Perra S, Melis M, Gessa GL (2005). Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and the mesoaccumbens reward circuit: evidence for GABAB receptor-mediated effects. Neuroscience 131(2): 465-474.

Melis M, Perra S, Muntoni AL, Pillolla G, Lutz B, Morsicano G, Di Marzo V, Gessa GL, Pistis M (2004). Prefrontal cortex stimulation induces 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol-mediated suppression of excitation in dopamine neurons. J Neurosci 24(47): 10707-10715.