Anatomy II: Experimental Neurobiology -
Prof. Dr. Horst-Werner Korf

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Expertise

• Neurobiology of circadian systems
  
• Cellular and molecular neuroendocrinology
  
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration und neuroprotection
  
  

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Resources and Abilities

• Cell und organotypic tissue cultures
  
• Immunocytochemistry and immunochemistry
  
• Confocal laser scanning microscopy
  
• Life cell imaging
  
• Transmission electron microscopy
  
• Morphometry, densitometry
  
• Calcium-imaging
  
• In-situ hybridisation
  
• Cloning, DNA-sequencing, transformation/transfection
  
• Luciferase assays
  
• RNAse-protection assay
  
• ELISA, RIA
  
• Analysis of locomotor activity
  
• Animal models: C3H, C57BL mice, transgenic mice with targeted deletions of clock genes and hormone receptors, Wistar- und Zucker-rats; hamster, Amphioxus
  
  

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Staff

• Prof. Dr. H.-W. Korf (Neuroendocrinology and circadian neurobiology, transmission electron microscopy)
  
• Prof. Dr. F. Nürnberger (Neuroendocrinology and circadian neurobiology, immunocytochemistry)
  
• PD Dr. F. Dehghani (Neuroprotection; organotypical brain slice culture, confocal laser scanning microscopy; life cell imaging; morphometry, densitometry, image analysis)
  
• PD Dr. C. Schomerus (Circadian neurobiology; cell and organ culture; immunocytochemistry, immunochemistry, in-situ hybridisation; Ca-Imaging; cloning, DNA-sequencing, transformation/transfection; ELISA, RIA)
  
• PD Dr. C. von Gall (Circadian neurobiology; in-situ hybridisation, cloning, DNA-sequencing, transformation/transfection; luciferase-assays; RNAse-protection assays; behavioural analysis of locomotor activity)
  
• PD Dr. H. Wicht (Comparative neurobiology; immunocytochemistry; immunochemistry; morphometry, densitometry; image analysis)
  
• Dr. M. Koch (Neuroprotection; circadian neurobiology; confocal laser scanning microscopy; immuncytochemistry and immunochemistry; cell and organ culture)
  
  

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Publications

• Kreutz S, Koch M, Boettger C, Ghadban C, Korf HW, Dehghani F: 2-Arachidonoylglycerol elicits neuroprotective effects on excitotoxically lesioned dentate gyrus granule cells via abnormal-cannbidiol-sensitive receptors on microglial cells. Glia 2008;: in press.
  
• Koch M, Habazettl I, Dehghani F, Korf HW: The rat pineal gland comprises an endocannabinoid system. J Pineal Res 2008; Jun 11: Epub ahead of print.
  
• Vogt C, Hailer NP, Ghadban C, Korf HW, Dehghani F: Successful inhibition of excitotoxic neuronal damage and microglial activation after delayed application of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. J Neurosci Res 2008; Jul 21: Epub ahead of print.
  
• Foerch C, Korf HW, Steinmetz H, Sitzer M, Arbeitsgruppe Schlaganfall Hessen: Abrupt shift of the pattern of diurnal variation in stroke onset with daylight saving time transitions. Circulation 2008; 118:284-90.
  
• Korf HW, Wicht H, Snipes RL, Timmermans JP, Paulsen F, Rune G, Baumgart-Vogt E 2008: The dissection course – necessary and indispensable for teaching anatomy to medical students. Ann Anat 2008; 190:16-22.
  
• Schomerus C, Korf HW, Laedtke E, Moret F, Zhang Q, Wicht H: Nocturnal behavior and rhythmic period gene expression in a lancelet, Branchiostoma lanceolatum. J Biol Rhythms 2008; 23:170-181.
  
• Korf HW: Welcome address to the 102nd congress of the Anatomische Gesellschaft in Gießen, Germany, March 30-April 2 2007, Ann Anat 2007; 189:533-534.
  
• Korf HW: Einheit und Vielheit - unity and plurality. Ann Anat 2007; 189:535-548.
  
• Althaus J, Siegelin MD, Dehghani F, Cilenti L, Zervos AS, Rami A: The serine protease Omi/HtrA2 is involved in XIAP cleavage and in neuronal cell death following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Neurochem Int 2007; 50:182-180.
  
• Dinet V, Korf HW: Impact of melatonin receptors on pCREB and clock-gene protein levels in the murine retina. Cell Tissue Res 2007; 330:29-34
  
• Niederberger E, Ehnert C, Gao W, Coste O, Schmidtko A, Popp L, von Gall C, Korf HW, Tegeder I, Geisslinger G: The impact of CREB and its phosphorylation at Ser142 on inflammatory nociception. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 362:75-80.
  
• Ackermann K, Dehghani F, Bux R, Kauert G, Stehle JH: Day-night expression patterns of clock genes in the human pineal gland. J Pineal Res 2007; 43:185-194.
  
• Aoki Y, Ono H, Yasuo S, Masuda T, Yoshimura T, Ebihara S, Iigo M, Yanagisawa T: Molecular evolution of prepro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the chicken (Gallus gallus) and its expression in the brain. Zoolog Sci 2007; 24:686-692.
  
• Anraku T, Takagi T, Nakao N, Watanabe M, Yasuo S, Katou Y, Ueda Y, Murai A, Iigo M, Ebihara S, Yoshimura T: Photoperiodic changes in hypothalamic insulin receptor gene expression are regulated by gonadal testosterone. Brain Res 2007; 1163:86-90.
  
• Nakao N, Yasuo S, Nishimura A, Yamamura T, Watanabe T, Anraku T, Okano T, Fukada Y, Sharp PJ, Ebihara S, Yoshimura T: Circadian clock gene regulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene expression in preovulatory ovarian follicles. Endocrinology 2007; 148:3031-3038.
  
• Takagi T, Yamamura T, Anraku T, Yasuo S, Nakao N, Watanabe M, Iigo M, Ebihara S, Yoshimura T: Involvement of transforming growth factor alpha in the photoperiodic regulation of reproduction in birds. Endocrinology 2007; 148:2788-2792.
  
• Watanabe T, Yamamura T, Watanabe M, Yasuo S, Nakao N, Dawson A, Ebihara S, Yoshimura T: Hypothalamic expression of thyroid hormone-activating and -inactivating enzyme genes in relation to photorefractoriness in birds and mammals. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2007; 292:R568-572
  
• Yasuo S, Watanabe M, Iigo M, Nakamura TJ, Watanabe T, Takagi T, Ono H, Ebihara S, Yoshimura T: Differential response of type 2 deiodinase gene expression to photoperiod between photoperiodic Fischer 344 and nonphotoperiodic Wistar rats. J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2007; 292:R1315-1319.
  
• Yasuo S, Takashi Y, Ebihara S, Korf HW: Temporal dynamics of type 2 deiodinase expression after melatonin injections in Syrian hamsters. Endocrinology 2007; 148:4385-4392.
  
• Dinet V, Ansari N, Torres-Farfan C, Korf HW: Clock gene expression in the retina of melatonin-proficient (C3H) and melatonin-deficient (C57BL) mice. J Pineal Res 2007; 42:83-91.
  
• Kreutz S, Koch M, Ghadban C, Korf H-W, Dehghani F: Cannabinoids and secondary neuronal damage: differential effects of THC, AEA and 2-AG on activated microglial cells and degenerating neurons in excitotoxically lesioned rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Exp Neurol 2007; 203:246-257.
  
• Koch M, Dehghani F, Habazettl I, Schomerus C, Korf HW: Cannabinoids attenuate norepinephrine-induced melatonin biosynthesis in the rat pineal gland by reducing arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase activity without involvement of cannabinoid receptors. J. Neurochem. 2006; 98: 267-278
  
• Oest TM, Dehghani F, Korf HW, Hailer NP: The immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil improves preservation of the perforant path in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures: a retrograde tracing study. Hippocampus 2006; 16:437-442.
  
• Mishra SK, Braun N, Shukla V, Fullgrabe M, Schomerus C, Korf HW, Gachet C, Ikehara Y, Sevigny J, Robson SC, Zimmermann H: Extracellular nucleotide signaling in adult neural stem cells: synergism with growth factor-mediated cellular proliferation. Development 2006; 133:675-684.
  
• Torres-Farfan C, Seron-Ferre M, Dinet V, Korf HW: Immunocytochemical demonstration of day/night changes of clock gene protein levels in the murine adrenal gland: differences between melatonin-proficient (C3H) and melatonin-deficient (C57BL) mice. J Pineal Res 2006; 40:64-70.
  
• Chaurasia SS, Rollag MD, Jiang G, Hayes WP, Haque R, Natesan A, Zatz M, Tosini G, Liu C, Korf HW, Iuvone PM, Provencio I. Molecular cloning, localization and circadian expression of chicken melanopsin (Opn4): differential regulation of expression in pineal and retinal cell types. J Neurochem 2005; 92:158-170.
  
• von Gall C, Weaver DR, Moek J, Jilg A, Stehle JH, Korf HW: Melatonin plays a crucial role in the regulation of rhythmic clock gene expression in the mouse pars tuberalis. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 2005; 1040:508-511.
  
• Hailer NP, Vogt C, Korf HW, Dehghani F: Interleukin-1beta exacerbates and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist attenuates neuronal injury and microglial activation after excitotoxic damage in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Eur J Neurosci 2005; 21: 2347-2360.
  
• Jilg A, Moek J, Weaver DR, Korf HW, Stehle JH, von Gall C: Rhythms in clock proteins in the mouse pars tuberalis depend on MT1 melatonin receptor signalling. Eur J Neurosci 2005; 22:2845-2854.
  
• Karolczak M, Korf HW, Stehle JH: The rhythm and blues of gene expression in the rodent pineal gland. Endocrine 2005; 27:89-100.
  
• Schomerus C, Korf HW: Mechanisms regulating melatonin synthesis in the Mammalian pineal organ. Ann NY Acad Sci 2005; 1057:372-383.
  
• Sheynzon P, Karolczak M, Dehghani F, Korf HW: Diurnal variation in CREB phosphorylation and PER1 protein levels in lactotroph cells of melatonin-proficient C3H and melatonin-deficient C57BL mice: similarities and differences. Cell Tissue Res 2005; 321:211-217.
  
• Stavridis SI, Dehghani F, Korf HW, Hailer NP: Characterisation of transverse slice culture preparations of postnatal rat spinal cord: preservation of defined neuronal populations. Histochem.Cell Biol 2005; 123: 377-392.
  
• Dehghani F, Conrad A, Kohl A, Korf HW, Hailer NP: Clodronate inhibits the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and NO by isolated microglial cells and reduces the number of proliferating glial cells in excitotoxically injured organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Exp Neurol 2004; 189:241-251
  
• Dehghani F, Conrad A, Kohl A, Korf HW, Hailer NP: Clodronate inhibits the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and NO by isolated microglial cells and reduces the number of proliferating glial cells in excitotoxically injured organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Exp Neurol 2004; 189:241-251
  
• Karolczak M, Burbach GJ, Sties G, Korf HW, Stehle JH: Clock gene mRNA and protein rhythms in the pineal gland of mice. Eur J Neurosci 2004; 19:3382-3388.
  
• Kell CA, Dehghani F, Wicht H, Molina CA, Korf HW, Stehle JH: Distribution of transcription factor inducible cyclicAMP early repressor (ICER) in rodent brain and pituitary. J Comp Neurol 2004; 478:379.
  
• Kell CA, Dehghani F, Wicht H, Molina CA, Korf HW, Stehle JH: Distribution of transcription factor inducible cyclicAMP early repressor (ICER) in rodent brain and pituitary. J Comp Neurol 2004; 478:379.
  
• Korf HW, Wicht H: The public cadaver. Nature 2004; 428: 805.
  
• Schomerus C, Laedtke E, Korf HW: Activation of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase by phorbol esters in bovine pinealocytes suggests a novel regulatory pathway in melatonin synthesis. J.Neuroendocrinol 2004; 16:741-749.
  
• Arens J, Moar KM, Eiden S, Weide K, Schmidt I, Mercer JG, Simon E, Korf HW: Age-dependent hypothalamic expression of neuropeptides in wild-type and melanocortin-4 receptor-deficient mice. Physiol Genomics 2003; 16:38-46.
  
• Beyer C, Pawlak J, Brito V, Karolczak M, Ivanova T, Kuppers E: Regulation of gene expression in the developing midbrain by estrogen: implication of classical and nonclassical steroid signaling. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci 2003; 1007:17-28.
  
• Beyer C, Pawlak J, Karolczak M: Membrane receptors for oestrogen in the brain. J.Neurochem 2003;. 87: 545-550.
  
• Dehghani F, Hischebeth GT, Wirjatijasa F, Kohl A, Korf HW, Hailer NP: The immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil attenuates neuronal damage after excitotoxic injury in hippocampal slice cultures. Eur.J.Neurosci 2003; 18:1061-1072.
  
• Ekhart D, Korf HW, Wicht H: Cytoarchitecture, topography, and descending supraspinal projections in the anterior central nervous system of Branchiostoma lanceolatum. J.Comp Neurol 2003; 466:319-330.
  
• Forger DB, Dean DA, Gurdziel K, Leloup JC, Lee C, von Gall C, Etchegaray JP, Kronauer RE, Goldbeter A, Peskin CS, Jewett ME, Weaver DR: Development and validation of computational models for mammalian circadian oscillators. OMICS 2003; 7:387-400.
  
• Gispert S, Del Turco D, Garrett L, Chen A, Bernard DJ, Hamm-Clement J, Korf HW, Deller T, Braak H, Auburger G, Nussbaum RL: Transgenic mice expressing mutant A53T human alpha-synuclein show neuronal dysfunction in the absence of aggregate formation. Mol Cell Neurosci 2003; 24:419-429.
  
• Jin X, von Gall C, Pieschl RL, Gribkoff VK, Stehle JH, Reppert SM, Weaver DR: Targeted disruption of the mouse Mel(1b) melatonin receptor. Mol.Cell Biol 2003; 23: 1054-1060.
  
• Koch M, Mauhin V, Stehle JH, Schomerus C, Korf HW: Dephosphorylation of pCREB by protein serine/threonine phosphatases is involved in inactivation of Aanat gene transcription in rat pineal gland. J Neurochem 2003; 85:170-179.
  
• Kohl A, Dehghani F, Korf HW, Hailer NP: The bisphosphonate clodronate depletes microglial cells in excitotoxically injured organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Exp Neurol 2003; 181:1-11.
  
• Korf HW, von Gall C, Stehle J: The circadian system and melatonin: lessons from rats and mice. Chronobiol Int 2003; 20:697-710.
  
• Mutoh T, Shibata S, Korf HW, Okamura H: Melatonin modulates the light-induced sympathoexcitation and vagal suppression with participation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in mice. J Physiol 2003; 547:317-332.
  
• Romanos GE, Toh CG, Siar CH, Wicht H, Yacoob H, Nentwig GH: Bone-implant interface around titanium implants under different loading conditions: a histomorphometrical analysis in the Macaca fascicularis monkey. J Periodontol 2003; 74:1483-1490.
  
• Schomerus C, Laedtke E, Korf HW: Norepinephrine-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element-binding protein in bovine pinealocytes. J Pineal Res 2003; 34:103-109.
  
• Stehle JH, von Gall C, Korf HW: Melatonin: a clock-output, a clock-input. J Neuroendocrinol 2003; 15:383-389.
  
• von Gall C: Rhythmic clock gene expression in the hypophyseal pars tuberalis is regulated by melatonin. Ann Anat 2003; 185:301-302.
  
• von Gall C, Noton E, Lee C, Weaver DR: Light does not degrade the constitutively expressed BMAL1 protein in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus. Eur J Neurosci 2003; 18:125-133.
  
• Gau D, Lemberger T, von Gall C, Kretz O, Le Minh N, Gass P, Schmid W, Schibler U, Korf HW, Schutz G: Phosphorylation of CREB Ser142 regulates light-induced phase shifts of the circadian clock. Neuron 2002; 34:245-253.
  
• Koch M, Korf HW: Distribution of regulatory subunits of protein kinase A and A kinase anchor proteins (AKAP 95, 150) in rat pinealocytes. Cell Tissue Res 2002; 310:331-338.
  
• Korf HW, Stehle JH: The circadian system: circuits-cells-clock genes. Cell Tissue Res 2002; 309:1-2.
  
• Revermann M, Maronde E, Ruth P, Korf HW: Protein kinase G I immunoreaction is colocalized with arginine-vasopressin immunoreaction in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. Neurosci Lett 2002; 334:119-122.
  
• Schomerus C, Laedtke E, Olcese J, Weller JL, Klein DC, Korf HW: Signal transduction and regulation of melatonin synthesis in bovine pinealocytes: impact of adrenergic, peptidergic and cholinergic stimuli. Cell Tissue Res 2002; 309:417-428.
  
• Schoniger S, Maronde E, Kopp MD, Korf HW, Nurnberger F: Transcription factor CREB and its stimulus-dependent phosphorylation in cell and explant cultures of the bovine subcommissural organ. Cell Tissue Res 2002;. 308: 131-142.
  
• Schoniger S, Kopp MD, Schomerus C, Maronde E, Dehghani F, Meiniel A, Rodriguez M, Korf HW, Nurnberger F: Effects of neuroactive substances on the activity of subcommissural organ cells in dispersed cell and explant cultures. Cell Tissue Res 2002;. 307: 101-114.
  
• Stehle JH, von Gall C, Korf HW: Organisation of the circadian system in melatonin-proficient C3H and melatonin-deficient C57BL mice: a comparative investigation. Cell Tissue Res 2002; 309:173-182.
  
• von Gall C, Stehle JH, Weaver DR: Mammalian melatonin receptors: molecular biology and signal transduction. Cell Tissue Res 2002; 309:151-162.
  
• von Gall C, Garabette ML, Kell CA, Frenzel S, Dehghani F, Schumm-Draeger PM, Weaver DR, Korf HW, Hastings MH, Stehle JH: Rhythmic gene expression in pituitary depends on heterologous sensitization by the neurohormone melatonin. Nat Neurosci 2002; 5:234-238.
  
• Willbold E, Huhn J, Korf HW, Voisin P, Layer PG: Light-dark and circadian melatonin rhythms are established de novo in re-aggregates of the embryonic chicken retina. Dev Neurosci 2002; 24:504-511.
  
• Wirjatijasa F, Dehghani F, Blaheta RA, Korf HW, Hailer NP: Interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and interleukin-1-receptor antagonist but not transforming growth factor-beta induce ramification and reduce adhesion molecule expression of rat microglial cells. J Neurosci Res 2002; 68:579-587.