Pharmacology

The research is mainly focused on the study of neurotransmission in the autonomic nervous system, with particular regard to the enteric nervous system. In this field, our studies are addressed to evaluate: - the adaptive processes involving different enteric neurotransmitter receptor pathways and the relevant intracellular transduction mechanisms either during physiological conditions (i.e development and ageing) or after chronic drug treatments (i.e. antidepressant, opioids); - the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal diseases, such as intestinal ischemia and inflammation. In this regard, the research group is currently focusing on the involvement of the enteric microbiota in the development of enteric neuropathies underlying intestinal ischemia and inflammation; - the role of the microbiota-gut axis in the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as the irritable bowel syndrome