This unit investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the fine-tuning of neuronal communication, and their consequences for plasticity, neuroprotection and cognition. The brain possesses substances that either enhance or depress communication between neurones, adjusting neuronal activity to specific needs. Our broad investigation goal is to elucidate how these substances interplay and how they are involved in diseases of the nervous system.

Joaquim Alexandre Ribeiro
MD (1965) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon
PhD (1982) at the University of Edinburgh, UK
Postdoctoral research at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK

Head of the Laboratory of Pharmacology of the Instituto Gulbenkian Ciência until 1997
Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon

2010/2012 - Cross talk between neurotrophic factor receptors (TrkB) and adenosine A2A receptors: implications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). FCT, PTDC/SAU-NEU/101752/2008. Coordinator: Joaquim Ribeiro.

2008/2011 - Membrane receptors and mediators involved in plastic changes induced by neuronal insults: implications for neuroprotection. FCT, PTDC SAU/FCF/68607/2006. Coordinator: Joaquim Ribeiro.
 

 
Neuroprotection Group
2010/2013 - Modulation of GABAergic transmission in the hippocampus by adenosine. FCT, PTDC/SAU-NMC/110838/2009. Coordinator: Ana Sebastião.

 

2010/2013 - Role of adenosine A2A receptors in chronic stress – implications for learning and memory. FCT, PTDC/SAU-NEU/099853/2008. Coordinator: Luisa Lopes.

 

2007/10 - Trophic actions of neurotrophic factors: dependency of co-activation of A2A adenosine receptors. FCT, PTDC/SAU-NEU/64126/2006. Coordinator: Ana Sebastião.
 

2007/10 - COST B30 ESF Concerted Action on Neural Regeneration and Plasticity. NEREPLAS. Coordinator: Ana Sebastião.

 

2008/10 - Effect of neurotrophic factors on intestinal motility. Grant from Nestec, Nestlé Research Center Switzerland. Coordinator: Luisa Lopes.

In the last 5 years, PhD Students from the group stayed in foreign labs for periods of 3 months to 1 year, in the laboratories of:
Darwin Berg (Univ California, San Diego, USA) - Catarina Fernandes
Gunnar Schulte (Karolinska Inst, Stockholm, Sweeden) - Natalia Assaife Lopes
José M. Delgado (Seville) - Bruno Fontinha
Judith Pratt (Glasgow,) - Vasco Sousa
Moses Chao (New York) - Natalia Assaife Lopes
Rafael Franco (Barcelona) - Sofia Ferreira
Serge Ferré (NIH) - Catarina Gomes
Terrence Sejnowski (S Diego) - António Pinto-Duarte
Wim,Ghijsen (Amsterdam) - Diana Cunha-Reis

 

Members of the Unit regularly participate in the Brain awareness Week, organizing debates, public seminars, sessions in schools (all levels, which includes a range of students from 4 to 17 years old), accepting invitations to TV and radio interviews.

 

Lectures and sessions to a broad audience: Lopes, L.V. Host of the workshop “Behaviour and memory in rodents”, March, 2008.

 

Diógenes, MJ - ‘Em busca dos neurónios perdidos’ - Palestra no Club Setubalense,  May 2008.

 

Visits to Basic and Secondary Schools during Brain Awareness Week: Members of the Neurosciences Unit went to the following Basic and High Schools, who applied to have a session on the Brain to their students. Total Number of participants: 1000 pupils + 80 teachers. Activity coordination: Luísa Lopes

 

Pousinha, P.A., Correia A.M., Sebastião, A.M and Ribeiro, JA. (2010). Predominance of adenosine excitatory over inhibitory effects on transmission at the neuromuscular junction of infant rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 332: 153-163. (Journal IF: 4. 093).

 

Quiroz C, Gomes C, Pak AC, Ribeiro JA, Goldberg SR, Hope BT, Ferre S. (2006). Blockade of adenosine A2A receptors prevents protein phosphorylation in the striatum induced by cortical stimulation. J.  Neurosci. 26: 10808-10812. (Journal IF: 7.178).

 

Illes, P & Ribeiro, J.A. (2004). Molecular physiology of P2 receptors in the central nervous system. Eur J Pharmacol. 483: 5-17.(Journal IF: 2.585).

 

Ribeiro, J.A, Sebastião, A.M. De Mendonça, A., (2003). Adenosine receptors in the nervous system: pathophysiological implications. Prog. Neurobiol. 68: 377-392.(Journal IF: 9.140).

 

Cunha, J.A., Sebastião, A.M. & Ribeiro, J. A. (1998). Inhibition by ATP of hippocampal synaptic transmission requires localized extracellular catabolism by ecto-nucleotidases into adenosine and channeling to adenosine A1 receptors J. Neurosci. 18: 1987-1995.(Journal IF: 7.178).

 

 

 

 

Diógenes, M.J., Fernandes, C.C., Sebastião, A.M., Ribeiro, J.A. (2004) Activation of adenosine A2A receptor facilitates BDNF modulation of synaptic transmission in hippocampal slices. J. Neurosc. 24: 2905-2913. (Journal IF: 7.178).

 

Sebastião, A.M., de Mendonça, A., Moreira, T., Ribeiro, J.A. (2001). Activation of synaptic NMDA receptors by action potential-dependent release of transmitter during hypoxia impairs recovery of synaptic transmission on reoxygenation. J. Neurosci. 21: 8564-8571. (Journal IF: 7.178).

 

Sebastião, A.M., Ribeiro, J.A. (2000). Fine tuning neuromodulation by adenosine. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 21: 341-346.(Journal IF: 9.064).

 

Sebastião, A.M., Ribeiro, J.A. (1996). A2 receptor mediated excitatory actions of adenosine in the nervous system. Progr. Neurobiol. 48: 167-189. (Journal IF: 9.140).