Rasmus West Knopper
Title: Locus coeruleus: The master switch for brain health?
Date: 24th of February 2025, 13:00
Place: Auditorium G206-142, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N

Assessment committee:

• Professor Nicola Pavese, Department of Clinical Medicine, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Aarhus University (chairperson of assessment committee)
• Dr Matthias Prigge, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology
• Professor Valerio Zerbi, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
• Professor Brian Hansen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University (main supervisor, non-voting member of the committee)

About the project:

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Deep within the brain resides a small but important cluster of nerve cells, no larger than a grain of rice, known as the locus coeruleus (LC). As the brain’s primary source of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline, the LC is involved in the regulation of functions ranging from brain blood supply to sleep patterns. However, its unique features make it particularly vulnerable to degeneration, and it is one of the first brain regions affected in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. But how critical is the LC for overall brain health, and how can we study such a small region?

This project explores how impaired LC function affects the brain in mice. To investigate this, we are developing a disease model that enables the study of chronic, isolated LC dysfunction over time. The model is being behaviorally characterized through tests assessing anxiety, memory, and sleep, providing insight into how LC impairment affects behaviorally relevant networks. Additionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being used to examine how LC dysfunction impacts brain structure, offering a deeper understanding of its role in maintaining neural integrity.

By elucidating the long-term consequences of LC degeneration, this research aims to clarify its significance in brain health and disease.

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ALL ARE WELCOME

Contact

Rasmus West Knopper
Email: west@cfin.au.dk
PURE: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/persons/west%40cfin.au.dk