Research fields
I –OPIOID AND NON-OPIOID PEPTIDES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS AT CNS
LEVEL.
Main research field is Neuropharmacology, namely, Dr
Romualdi works on the biological role of neuropeptides, their
involvement in CNS functions, such as the mechanisms of reward to
addictive drugs, nociceptive transmission, sleep regulation,
thermoregulation and behavioral studies; she studies the gene
expression regulation for opioid neuropeptides.
The opioid neuropeptide dynorphin, its pharmacodynamic profile
and the gene regulation represents the main topic.
II –Distribution, identification and regulation of opioid and
non opioid peptides, after pharmacological manipulations.
As regards non opioid neuropeptides, she personally contributed
to the identification of a new peptide, related to Vasoactive
Intestinal Polypeptide, the VIP 22-28, at rat CNS level, reporting
the molecular characterization and the tissue distribution into the
brain and spinal cord; she also suggested a possible biological
role for this new peptide at CNS level, in sleep regulation and
seizures.
III –gene expression regulation of opioid peptides after chronic
exposure to addictive drugs.
As regards opioids, Dr. Romualdi suggested the involvement of
the dynorphinergic system in the neurochemical alterations
underlying the development of the phenomena of tolerance and
dependence after chronic exposure to opiates. Recently, she is
studying the mechanisms regulating the gene expression for opioid
neuropeptides and the possibility that they could be affected not
only by opiates, but also by other drugs of abuse, such as
amphetamines and cocaine.
The aim of these studies is the elucidation of the neuronal
pathways underlying the development of the phenomena of tolerance
activated by chronic exposure to addictive drugs and the biological
role of the opioids involved into them. A possible relationship
with dopamine in the meso-cortico-limbic system is also
ascertained.
Another research field is represented by the study of the
opioidergic system during the development of epileptic conditions,
experimentally induced by amygdaloid kindling into the rat. A role
for the opioid dynorphin has been ascertained in the mechanisms of
kindling at rat hippocampus, striatum, and cortex level and,
furthermore, it has recently been observed that prodynorphin gene
expression is not always related to AP-1 activation on the gene
promoter, and consequently to the oncogene c-fos expression.
Recently, a role for another peptide in epilepsy has been
ascertained in rats and mice: orphaninFQ or nociceptin peptide and
its receptor NOP have been shown to be involved in kainate
seizures.
Research Projects:
Dr. Romualdi participates to several National Research Projects
on Pharmacology, Biotechnology and Neurosciences, granted by MIUR
(FIRB), Regione Emilia-Romagna and by CNR and also to
International Research Projects , granted by the NIH (National
Institute of Health) and NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse),
USA .
Research fields
I –OPIOID AND NON-OPIOID PEPTIDES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS AT CNS
LEVEL.
Main research field is Neuropharmacology, namely, Dr Romualdi
works on the biological role of neuropeptides, their involvement in
CNS functions, such as the mechanisms of reward to addictive drugs,
nociceptive transmission, sleep regulation, thermoregulation and
behavioral studies; she studies the gene expression regulation for
opioid neuropeptides.
The opioid neuropeptide dynorphin, its pharmacodynamic profile
and the gene regulation represents the main topic.
II –Distribution, identification and regulation of opioid and
non opioid peptides, after pharmacological manipulations.
As regards non opioid neuropeptides, she personally contributed
to the identification of a new peptide, related to Vasoactive
Intestinal Polypeptide, the VIP 22-28, at rat CNS level, reporting
the molecular characterization and the tissue distribution into the
brain and spinal cord; she also suggested a possible biological
role for this new peptide at CNS level, in sleep regulation and
seizures.
III –gene expression regulation of opioid peptides after chronic
exposure to addictive drugs.
As regards opioids, Dr. Romualdi suggested the involvement of
the dynorphinergic system in the neurochemical alterations
underlying the development of the phenomena of tolerance and
dependence after chronic exposure to opiates. Recently, she is
studying the mechanisms regulating the gene expression for opioid
neuropeptides and the possibility that they could be affected not
only by opiates, but also by other drugs of abuse, such as
amphetamines and cocaine.
The aim of these studies is the elucidation of the neuronal
pathways underlying the development of the phenomena of tolerance
activated by chronic exposure to addictive drugs and the biological
role of the opioids involved into them. A possible relationship
with dopamine in the meso-cortico-limbic system is also
ascertained.
Another research field is represented by the study of the
opioidergic system during the development of epileptic conditions,
experimentally induced by amygdaloid kindling into the rat. A role
for the opioid dynorphin has been ascertained in the mechanisms of
kindling at rat hippocampus, striatum, and cortex level and,
furthermore, it has recently been observed that prodynorphin gene
expression is not always related to AP-1 activation on the gene
promoter, and consequently to the oncogene c-fos expression.
Recently, a role for another peptide in epilepsy has been
ascertained in rats and mice: orphaninFQ or nociceptin peptide and
its receptor NOP have been shown to be involved in kainate
seizures.
Contact Info:
: Patrizia Romualdi, Ph.D.
Department of Pharmacology
University of Bologna
Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
email: patrizia.romualdi@unibo.it
tel.+390512091803
fax +39051248862
Collaborations:
She has currently collaborations with:
Dept. of Pharmacology of the Uniformed Services University of
the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA ;
Dept. of Pharmacology of the George Washington University,
Washington, DC, USA ;
The Biological Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute
of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA;
The Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of
Medicine, Miami, FL
Dip. di Farmacologia dell'Università di Ferrara;
Dip. di Farmacologia dell'Università di Modena
And in the past with:
Dip. di Farmacologia dell'Università di Milano;
Clinica Dermatologica dell'Università di Modena;
Dip. di Scienze Farmaceutiche dell'Università di Bologna,
Ferrara e Torino.