Institute for Anatomy & Cell Biology
Philipps-University Marburg
Dept. of. Molecular Neurosciences
Robert-Koch-Str. 8
35032 Marburg
Germany

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Team Leader

Prof. Dr. Eberhard Weihe Team leader  Phone: +49 6421 28 66 247  Fax: +49 6421 28 68 965  Contact

Project Staff

Dr. med. Martin Schaefer Head of Molecular-Biology Laboratory  Phone: +49 6421 28 64 036  Fax: +49 6421 28 68 965  Contact

Mrs. Heidi Hlawaty Technician  Phone: +49 6421 28 64 031  Fax: +49 6421 28 68 965  Contact

Mrs. Petra Lattemann Technician  Phone: +49 6421 28 64 038  Fax: +49 6421 28 68 965

Mrs. Heike Reichert-Preibsch Technician  Phone: +49 6421 28 64 050  Fax: +49 6421 28 68 965  Contact

Mr. Michael Schneider Technician  Phone: +49 6421 28 64 031  Fax: +49 6421 28 68 965  Contact

Mrs. Annette Seip Technician  Phone: +49 6421 28 64 031  Fax: +49 6421 28 68 965  Contact

Institute Presentation

Researchers
Prof. Eberhard Weihe, MD,  Head of the  Dept. of Molecular Neuroscience, MD, Director  of the Institute of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Vic-Dean  of the Medical Faculty of the Philipps University Marburg; President of the European Neuropeptide Club.

Prof. Peter H. Kann, Head of the Endocrinology & Metabolism Unit at the Clinics for Internal Medicine, Dept. of Gastroenerology, University Clinics Giessen Marburg, Marburg.

Research Profile
The Dept. of Molecular Neuroscience has internationally recognized expertise in the molecular and cellular biology of chemical coding of neurotransmission, neuroendocrine secretion and neuroimmune regulation in health and disease. We have made substantial contributions to the identification and characterization of vesicular neurotransmitter transporters belonging to  the  transporter families of the solute carrier (SLC) gene series including the SLC18 vesicular amine transporters VAChT for acetylcholine and VMAT1/2 for monoamines and the three SLC17 vesicular glutamate transporter isoforms VGLUT1-3.  By exploring their cell- and synapse-specific expression, differentiation and plasticity in relation to the full spectrum of the various transmitter synthesizing enzymes and other presynaptic proteins throughout development and in the course of disease we provided new insights into cell-specific target-dependent regulation of neurotransmitter phenotypes. We extended the concept of cotransmission of classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides to the new dimension  of cotransmission of different classical transmitters from distinct neurons and synapses (e.g. catecholamines with acetylcholine, glutamate with serotonin or acetylcholine). Employing transgenic and knockout animals and gene expression profiling  of microdissected cells we have also contributed to establish the functional significance of neuroimmune and neuroglial interactions under physiological and pathophysiological conditions such as endotoxinemia, viral infections, neurodegeneration, and pain. We are particularly interested in neuroendocrine  and hematopoetic tumors including insulinomas. Biomolecules of special interest for our group include neuroeptides and G-protein coupled receptors especially of the VIP/PACAP/Gucagon, Tachykinin and CGRP families, TRPV channels, complement factors, cytokines, chemokines and inflammation-related enzymes such as cyclooxygenases and indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase. The Endocrinology & Metabolism Unit has prominent expertise in clinical endocrinology and diabetes research.

Our group was the first to discover the vesicular monoamine transporter VMAT2 as a specfic biomarker of human ß-cells with potential for ß-cell imaging (Anlauf et al., J Histochem Cytochem 2003; 51:1027) and to recognize the neuropeptide PACAP as a sympathoadrenal neurotransmitter involved in glucohomeostasis (Hamelink et al., PNAS. 2002; 99:461).

Technical Expertise
Immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, autoradiography, confocal microscopy, quantitative RT-PCR, quantitative image analysis, gene expression profiling and in  standard methods of cell biology, molecular biology, neurobiology and immunology; gain and loss of function transgenic mouse models. We run a core facility for  Laser Micordissection; (Chief: Martin Schäfer, MD).

International Collaboration
Lee Eiden; Chief, Section on Molecular Neuroscience; NIMH-IRP, NIH, DHHS; Bethesda, MD, USA