Joerg Neddens - Personal Page
Scientific Interests
How does the brain organize itself – and what goes wrong in Schizophrenia? The brain is different from other organs, because it is not only essential to keep us alive (like the liver or the kidneys) but it additionally creates the unique, permanent, and constantly changing experience of being “me” – and not someone else. The brain of each human being is shaped by both genetic inheritance AND individual experience. Therefore, even the brains of genetically identical monozygotic twins are functionally different, making each twin unique.
In order to understand the principles of functional brain development we have to unveil the lifelong interaction of genes and of external stimuli that, together, work to form a unique human mind. External sensual stimuli can (and often will) leave behind a permanent trace (a.k.a. “learning”) in the function and anatomy of the brain. Importantly, these structural and functional changes within the brain happen during the entire lifespan. There are, however, critical phases during the development and postnatal maturation of functional neural systems during which stimuli may have especially strong impact on the formation of neural circuits, being it positive or negative.
Schizophrenia is thought to be a neurodevelopmental disorder. It seems as if both genetic and early environmental factors interact during brain maturation in subtle ways and may cause the outbreak of the disorder decades later, maybe triggered by an additional acute event. Several of these factors are probably necessary to trigger schizophrenia, but yet none has been identified as being sufficient. How each of these factors contributes and in which ways they interact is still poorly understood.
I spent the first years of my career investigating the long-term effects of early postnatal stimuli (both pharmacological and environmental) on maturation and hardwiring of the adult brain, e.g. GABAergic interneurons and the density of monoaminergic fibers that innervate limbic areas. At the National Institutes of Health, I now additionally use the tools of molecular biology to study genetic factors (especially ErbB4) and their role in brain maturation, function and dysfunction.
If I can establish my own lab, I like to combine research on both genetic and non-genetic factors and investigate their interaction during maturation of the brain. In extension to both previous and current projects on interneurons I plan to investigate the roles of different populations of interneurons in mediating the functional interactions between the hippocampus and the medial septum. Cholinergic neurons that project from the septum into the hippocampus express neuregulin-1 and presumably target specific subsets of hippocampal interneurons. However, the identity of these target cells, their expression of specific receptor types for acetylcholine, and their functional roles, especially in regard to neuregulin-1/ErbB signaling and its role in learning and memory within the hippocampal circuitry, are as of yet not well understood.
Being a neuroanatomist by training, it has been essential to acquire additional skills in order to advance my scientific knowledge and to fulfill my career goals. During my stay in the Section of Molecular Neurobiology I have been able to comprehensively learn and apply molecular approaches (generation of two mutant mice) and have enormously benefited from the wide range of expertise in the lab (neuronal cell culture and live cell imaging, protein biochemistry, electrophysiology, microdialysis and HPLC). Exactly this big and broad increase in scientific knowledge has been crucial to establish several joint projects and cooperations that now enable us to investigate the properties and functions of Neuregulin-ErbB signaling much more comprehensively, and will result in increased understanding of the role of neuregulin/ErbB signaling in brain development and schizophrenia.
Publications
Peer Reviewed Articles
H-Index (SCOPUS, September 2008): h = 7
Neddens J, Buonanno A: The role of interneurons in hippocampal neuregulin-ErbB4 signaling. Review (In preparation).
Paredes D, Catlow BJ, Neddens J, Bickford PC, Buonanno A: Effects of neuregulin-1 on eyeblink conditioning. (In preparation).
Vullhorst D, Karavanova I, Neddens J, Buonanno A: Development and characterization of new and highly specific rabbit monoclonal antibodies against the Neuregulin receptor and schizophrenia susceptibility protein ErbB4. (In submission).
Neddens J, Buonanno A: Selective populations of hippocampal interneurons express ErbB4 and their number and distribution is altered in ErbB4 knockout mice. (Submitted).
Vullhorst D, Neddens J, Buonanno, A: Neuregulin links dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission to control hippocampal synaptic plasticity. (Submitted).
Kwon OB, Paredes D, Gonzalez CM, Neddens J, Hernandez L, Vullhorst D, Buonanno, A (2008): Neuregulin-1 regulates LTP at CA1 hippocampal synapses through activation of dopamine D4 receptors. PNAS 105: 15587-15592.
Fisahn A, Neddens J, Yan L, Buonanno A (2008): Neuregulin-1 modulates hippocampal gamma oscillations: Implications for schizophrenia. Cereb Cortex, published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhn107.
Grund T, Teuchert-Noodt G, Busche A, Neddens J, Brummelte S, Moll GH, Dawirs RR (2007):Administration of oral methylphenidate during adolescence prevents suppressive development of dopamine projections into prefrontal cortex and amygdala after an early pharmacological challenge in gerbils. Brain Res 1176: 124-132.
Brummelte S, Neddens J, Teuchert-Noodt G (2007): Alteration in the GABAergic network of the prefrontal cortex in a potential animal model of psychosis. J Neural Transm 114: 539-547.
Brummelte S, Grund T, Czok A, Teuchert-Noodt G, Neddens J (2006): Long-term effects of a single adult methamphetamine challenge: minor impact on dopamine fibre density in limbic brain areas of gerbils. Behav Brain Funct 2: 12.
Busche A, Bagorda A, Lehmann K, Neddens J, Teuchert-Noodt G (2006): The maturation of the acetylcholine system in the dentate gyrus of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) is affected by epigenetic factors. J Neural Transm 113: 113-124.
Lesting J, Neddens J, Teuchert-Noodt G (2005): Ontogeny of the dopamine innervation in the nucleus accumbens of gerbils. Brain Res 1066: 16-23.
Lesting J, Neddens J, Busche A, Teuchert-Noodt G (2005): Isolated rearing and a single early methamphetamine challenge cause hemisphere-specific alteration of the serotonin but not dopamine innervation in the nucleus accumbens of gerbils. Brain Res 1035: 168-176.
Neddens J, Dawirs RR, Bagorda F, Busche A, Horstmann S, Teuchert-Noodt G (2004): Postnatal Maturation of Cortical Serotonin Lateral Asymmetry in Gerbils is Vulnerable to Both Environmental and Pharmacological Epigenetic Challenges. Brain Res 1021: 200-208.
Busche A, Polascheck D, Lesting J, Neddens J, Teuchert-Noodt G (2004): Developmentally induced imbalance of dopaminergic fibre densities in limbic brain regions of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). J Neural Transm 111: 451-463.
Neddens J, Bagorda F, Busche A, S Horstmann, Moll GH, Dawirs RR, Teuchert-Noodt G (2003): Epigenetic factors differentially influence postnatal maturation of serotonin (5-HT) innervation in cerebral cortex of gerbils: interaction of rearing conditions and early methamphetamine challenge. Dev Brain Res 146: 119-130.
Neddens J, Lesting J, Dawirs RR, Teuchert-Noodt G (2002): An early methamphetamine challenge suppresses the maturation of dopamine fibres in the nucleus accumbens of gerbils: on the significance of rearing conditions. J Neural Transm 109: 141-155.
Busche A, Neddens J, Dinter C, Dawirs RR, Teuchert-Noodt G (2002): Differential influence of rearing conditions and methamphetamine on serotonin fibre maturation in the dentate gyrus of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Dev Neurosci 24: 512-521.
Neddens J, Brandenburg K, Teuchert-Noodt G, Dawirs RR (2001): Differential environment alters ontogeny of dopamine innervation of the orbital prefrontal cortex in gerbils. J Neurosci Res 63: 209-213.
Posters/Abstracts
Neddens J, Buonanno A, Fisahn A (2008): NRG-1/ErbB4 dependent modulation of hippocampal gamma oscillations. FENS Meeting, Geneva. Poster 080.9/B88.
Fisahn A, Neddens J, Yan L, Buonanno A (2007): Neuregulin-1 modulates hippocampal gamma oscillations: Implications for schizophrenia. SfN Annual Meeting, San Diego. Poster 793.2/L15.
Neddens J, Lesting J, Busche A, Teuchert-Noodt G (2004): Lateral asymmetry of the monoaminergic innervation in the gerbil forebrain: adaption/maladaption to external stimuli. 6th Three-Country-Symposium of Biological Psychiatry, Bern. Eur Arch Psychiat Clin Neurosci 254 Suppl 1: 31.
Teuchert-Noodt G, Bagorda F, Neddens J, Busche A (2004): Anatomical disconnection of prefrontal efferents in an animal model of psychosis. 6th Three-Country-Symposium of Biological Psychiatry, Bern. Eur Arch Psychiat Clin Neurosci 254 Suppl 1: 40.
Busche A, Neddens J, Polascheck D, Teuchert-Noodt G (2003): Epigenetic factors variably influence the maturation of dopaminergic pathways in gerbils. 3rd German Parkinson Congress, Dresden.
Neddens J, Busche A, Bagorda F, Teuchert-Noodt G (2003): An early methamphetamine intoxication exerts region-specific morphogenetic effects on the maturation of the cortical 5-HT innervation: interaction with environmental experience. Proc 29th Göttingen Neurobiol Conf: 939.
Lesting J, Neddens J, Teuchert-Noodt G (2003): Adaptive changes of dopaminergic and serotonergic interaction in the nucleus accumbens depending on epigenetic factors. Proc 29th Göttingen Neurobiol Conf: 938.
Neddens J, Busche A, Teuchert-Noodt G (2002): Differential effects of methamphetamine on maturation of serotoninergic (5-HT) innervation in prefrontal cortex of restricted and seminaturally reared gerbils. Acta Neuropathol 104: 563.
Neddens J, Lesting J, Dawirs RR, Teuchert-Noodt G (2001): A single early methamphetamine application suppresses the maturation of dopamine fibres in the nucleus accumbens of gerbils. Proc 28th Göttingen Neurobiol Conf, Vol 2: 856.
Oral Presentations
Neddens J (2008): The role of GABAergic interneurons in mediating NRG1-ErbB4 effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and network activity. (Presentations scheduled for December at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and the Universities of Bielefeld and Münster, Germany).
Neddens J (2008): ErbB4/NRG-1 signaling and modulation of synaptic plasticity in hippocampus. Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, NINDS, NIH.
Neddens J (2005): The postnatal maturation of the brain is susceptible to both environmental and pharmacological interference. Buonanno Lab, Molecular Neurobiology, NICHD, NIH.
Neddens J (2004): Lateral asymmetry in the mammalian brain: monoamines, plasticity and pathology. 6th Three-Country-Symposium of Biological Psychiatry, Bern. Eur Arch Psychiat Clin Neurosci 254 Suppl 1: 31.
Neddens J (2002): Epigenetically induced pathological alterations of monoaminergic fibers in the mature and aging brain: Quantitative studies on the impact of pharmacological and environmental stimuli on the functional anatomy in mice. Annual Meeting of the Deutsche Parkinson Vereinigung (German Association for Parkinson’s Disease), Kassel.
Ph.D. Thesis
On the influence of epigenetic factors on maturation of monoaminergic neurotransmitters in the forebrain of Meriones unguiculatus. The application of modern image analysis in neurobiology. (Zum Einfluß epigenetischer Faktoren auf die Reifung aminerger Neurotransmitter im Frontalhirn von Meriones unguiculatus. Der Einsatz moderner Bildanalysesysteme in neurobiologischen Fragestellungen.) Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, 2002. “Summa cum laude”.
Curriculum Vitae
Peronal Data
Date of birth September 29, 1967
Place of birth Lemgo, Germany
Citizenship German
Scientific Education
Visiting Fellow, Section on Molecular Neurobiology, NICHD, NIH 08/2005 to date
Post-doc, project leader, University of Bielefeld 08/2002-06/2005
PhD (Dr. rer. nat.), “summa cum laude”, University of Bielefeld 07/2002
PhD student, University of Bielefeld 08/1997-07/2002
MSc (Diplom), University of Bielefeld 07/1997
Studies of Biology and Physics, University of Bielefeld 10/1991-07/1997
Grants/Stipends
National Institutes of Health, Section on Molecular Neurobiology, Bethesda. Research Fellowship (2005 to date): Investigation of the Neuregulin ErbB4 receptor and its interaction with dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission in the hippocampus of mice.
Deutsche Parkinson Vereinigung (2002-2004): Epigenetically induced pathological alterations of monoaminergic fibre systems in the adult and aging brain: Quantitative studies on the significance of pharmacological and environmental factors on the maturation of the dopamine system in gerbils. Grant total: €150,000.
University of Bielefeld, FIF 94, OZ 20.940.26 (2001/2002): Serotonergic innervation of the limbic system of gerbils. Grant total: DM 6,000 (≈ €3,000).
University of Bielefeld, FIF 94, OZ 20.940.76 (1999/2000): Maturation of the serotonin system in gerbils. Grant total: DM 6,000 (≈ €3,000).
Teaching Experience
National Institutes of Health 2005-to date
Supervision of summer students.
University of Bielefeld 1998-2004
12 practical courses with concomitant lectures, each 8+2 weekly hours (SWS)
6 seminars, each 2 weekly hours (SWS)
1 lecture with concomitant tutorial, 1+2 weekly hours (SWS)
Co-mentoring and direct supervision of 6 graduate students (Diplomand) and 2 PhD students (Doktorand).
SS 2004: 201042 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 4+1 SWS: Methoden der Neurohistologie I.
201154 Seminar, 2 SWS: Aktuelle Aspekte der Neurobiologie.
WS 2003/2004: 201043 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 8+2 SWS: Neuroanatomische und neuro-chemische Grundlagen des Verhaltens.
201169 Seminar, 2 SWS: Aktuelle Aspekte der Neurobiologie.
SS 2003: 201053 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 4+1 SWS: Experimentelle neuroanatomische Arbeitstechniken.
201201 Seminar, 2 SWS: Aktuelle Aspekte der Neurobiologie.
WS 2002/2003: 201164 Seminar, 2 SWS: Biologie versus Technik. Erkenntnisse der Neuro-forschung.
SS 2002: 201108 Laborübung, 4 SWS: Neuroimmunhistochemie.
201163 Seminar, 2 SWS: Aktuelle Aspekte der Neurobiologie.
WS 2001/2002: 201055 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 8+2 SWS: Neurochemische und funktionelle Anatomie des Gehirns von Wirbeltier und Mensch.
SS 2001: 201014 Vorlesung und Übung, 1+2 SWS: Bausteine des Wirbeltierorganismus.
201031 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 8+2 SWS: Neurodidaktik – eine neue Didaktik.
201178 Seminar, 2 SWS: Aktuelle Aspekte der Neurobiologie.
WS 2000/2001: 201056 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 8+2 SWS: Drogen und Gehirn.
SS 2000: 201064 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 4+1 SWS: Experimentelle Neuroembryologie.
WS 1999/2000: 201045 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 4+1 SWS: Neurobiologische Grundlagen von Lernen und Gedächtnisbildung.
SS 1999: 201051 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 8+2 SWS: Experimentelle Neuroembryologie.
WS 1998/1999: 201039 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 4+1 SWS: Drogen und Gehirn.
201052 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 8+2 SWS: Neurochemische Grundlagen des Verhaltens.
SS 1998: 201068 Blockpraktikum und Übung, 8+2 SWS: Prinzipien der Neurogenese I: Strukturbildung.