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Neuronal processing of the olivocerebellar system

Principal investigator: Dr. Marcel de Jeu

The aim of our research is to investigate motor control on the neuronal level. We are particularly interested in questions of neuronal coding, temporal aspects of neuronal dynamics, and mechanisms that control spike timing and synaptic plasticity. In order to elucidate neuronal processing of the olivocerebellar system during motor tasks, we combine in vivo electrophysiological techniques (extracellular and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings) with natural behavioral paradigms (ocular and eyeblink reflexes). Genetically modified mice are used to investigate specific components of the olivocerebellar network. We are currently investigating the function of olivary gap junctions using connexin36 mutant mice.

Selected recent Publications (pubmed):

  • CE Andreescu, F Prestori, F Brandalise, A D’Errico, MTG De Jeu, P Rossi, L Botta, G Kohr, P Perin, E D’Angelo, CI De Zeeuw. NMDA-NR2A Receptors Are Required for Potentiation at the Mossy Fiber to Granule Cell Synapse and Vestibulo-Cerebellar Motor Learning. Neurosci., (2010).

  • TA van Essen, RS van der Giessen, SK Koekkoek, F Vanderwerf, CI Zeeuw CI, PJ van Genderen, D Overbosch, MT de Jeu. Anti-malaria drug mefloquine induces motor learning deficits in humans. Front. Neurosci. ,4 (2010), 191.

  • A Belmeguenai, E Hosy, F Bengtsson, CM Pedroarena, C Piochon, E Teuling, Q He, G Ohtsuki, MTG De Jeu, Y Elgersma, CI De Zeeuw, H Jörntell, C Hansel. Intrinsic plasticity complements long-term potentiation in parallel fiber input gain control in cerebellar Purkinje cells. J. Neurosci., 30(41) (2010), 13630-43.

  • RS Van Der Giessen, SK Koekkoek, S van Dorp, JR De Gruijl, A Cupido, S Khosrovani, B Dortland, K Wellershaus, J Degen, J Deuchars, EC Fuchs, H Monyer, K Willecke, MTG De Jeu, CI De Zeeuw. Role of olivary electrical coupling in cerebellar motor learning. Neuron, 58(4) (2008), 599-612.

  • CE Andreescu, BA Milojkovic, ED Haasdijk, P Kramer, FH de Jong, A Krust, CI de Zeeuw, MTG de Jeu. Estradiol improves cerebellar memory formation by activating ER?. J. Neurosci., 27(40) (2007), 10832-39.

  • S Khosrovani, RS van der Giessen, CI de Zeeuw, MTG de Jeu. In vivo mouse inferior olivary neurons exhibit heterogeneous subthreshold oscillations and spiking patterns. PNAS, 104(40) (2007), 15911-16.

  • C Hansel, MTG de Jeu*, A Belmeguenai, SH Houtman, GH Buitendijk, D Andreev, CI De Zeeuw, Y Elgersma. aCaMKII Is essential for cerebellar LTD and motor learning. Neuron, 51 (2006), 835-43.

  • M Schonewille, S Khosrovani, BH Winkelman, FE Hoebeek, MTG De Jeu, IM Larsen, J Van der Burg, MT Schmolesky, MA Frens, CI De Zeeuw. Purkinje cells in awake behaving animals operate at the upstate membrane potential. Nature Neurosci., 9 (2006), 459-461.

  • CE Andreescu, MM de Ruiter, C I de Zeeuw, MTG de Jeu. Otolith deprivation induces optokinetic compensation. J. Neurophys., 94 (2005), 3487-3496.

  • CI De Zeeuw, A Devor, E Chorev, RS Van der Giessen, J Bijman, CC Hoogenraad, TJH Ruigrok, P French, D Jaarsma, WM Kistler, MTG De Jeu, C Meier, E Petrasch-Parwez, R Dermietzel, G Sohl, M Gueldenagel, K Willecke and Y Yarom. Deformation of network connectivity in the Inferior Olive of Cx36 null-mutant mice is compensated by electrophysiological changes at the single neuron level. J. Neurosci., 23 (2003), 4700-4711.

  • W Kistler, MTG de Jeu*, R van der Giessen, R Hensbroek, C Luo, S Koekkoek, C Hoogenraad, F Hamers, M Gueldenagel, G Sohl, K Willecke, CI De Zeeuw. Olivary gap junctions are not required for complex spike synchronization and normal motor?performance. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 978 (2003), 391-404.

Theses