Prof. Dr. Walter Zieglgänsberger

Research focus: Patch-clamp techniques under visual control and single channel analysis in brain slices, visualization of neurons and their small processes to detail neuronal plasticity in circuits of the mammalian CNS, uncaging of active molecules by means of laser light for micromapping of dendritic sensitivity, combination of darkfield techniques and infrared-videomicroscopy to measure the "intrinsic optical signal" (IOS) in slices to study the spread of neuronal excitation and its modulation, technologies to quantify gene expression in the mammalian CNS.

Key words: Cellular neurobiology, functional imaging, molecular neurobiology

Graduated GSN student: Dr. Christian Webhofer

Selected publications:

Marsicano G, Goodenough S, Monory K, Hermann H, Eder M, Cannich A, Azad SC, Cascio MG, Gutierrez SO, van der Stelt M, Lopez-Rodriguez ML, Casanova E, Schutz G, Zieglgänsberger W, Di Marzo V, Behl C and Lutz B. (2003) CB1 cannabinoid receptors and on-demand defense against excitotoxicity. Science 302: 84-88.

Sillaber I, Rammes G, Zimmermann S, Mahal B, Zieglgänsberger W, Wurst W, Holsboer F and Spanagel R. (2002) Enhanced and delayed stress-induced alcohol drinking in mice lacking functional CRH1 receptors. Science 296(5569): 931-933.

Marsicano G, Wotjak CT, Azad SC, Bisogno T, Rammes G, Cascio MG, Hermann H, Tang JR, Hofmann C, Zieglgänsberger W, Di Marzo V and Lutz B. (2002) The endogenous cannabinoid system controls extinction of aversive memories. Nature 418(6897): 530-534.

Dodt HU, Eder M, Frick A and Zieglgänsberger W. (1999) Precisely localized LTD in the neocortex revealed by infrared-guided laser stimulation. Science 286: 110-113.

Zieglgänsberger W, French ED, Siggins GR and Bloom FE. (1979) Opioid peptides may excite hippocam¬pal pyramidal neurons by inhibiting adjacent inhibitory interneurons. Science 205: 415-417.