Emma Perez-Costas, Ph.D.

Education:
Ph.D., University of Santiago de Compostela, Cell Biology/Neurosciences, 2002.

M.Sc., University of Santiago de Compostela, Cell Biology, 1998.

B.Sc., University of Santiago de Compostela, Biology, 1996.

Academic Appointments:

Research Interests:
-Pathogenesis of dopaminergic systems in schizophrenia: In order to discern between intrinsic pathology of schizophrenia and effects produced by neuroleptics administered to schizophrenia patiens, we are currently studying which is the impact of the treatment with neuroleptics in the dopaminergic system (using light and electron microscopy, in situ hybridization and western-blot techniques) in animal models and human postmortem tissue.

-Animal models and neuroleptics: oral treatment and receptor occupancy levels.

-Striatal synaptic development in animal models and human brain tissue: this part of our research is focus in understanding when and how normal synaptic development occurs in the striatum, how synaptic dychotomy is generated between the different compartments of the striatum (patch and matrix) and which molecules play a major role. The aim of this study is to gain some light in normal human development towards identifying the time point and possible molecules involved in the anomalies of synaptic density observed in schizophrenia postmortem tissue.

Previous Research:
-Doctoral Thesis: The research project that became my doctoral dissertation was developed in Dr. Hector J. Caruncho and Dr. Maria Celina Rodicio laboratories (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain), and It was related with the study of possible roles of reelin in the development and plasticity in non-cortical structures of the CNS, using as a model the lamprey brain (one of the most ancient living vertebrates).

-My doctoral dissertation shows that reelin is present in an animal without developed cortical structures, pointing out that reelin is a protein well conserved in the vertebrate evolution. Furthermore, this study shows an interesting pattern of expression of reelin in adult animals that suggest a possible role of this protein in neuronal plasticity in brain structures like the hypothalamus or the olfactory bulb (for more information see Perez-Costas et al., 2002, Perez-Costas et al., 2004)

-Other research projects: During my graduate student period I also had the opportunity to collaborate in several studies that strongly contributed to my formation in neuroanatomy, all of them developed in the research group of Dr Maria Celinia Rodicio and Dr. Ramon Anadon (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain). These studies involved different aspects of the developing and adult lamprey CNS, including an study of the ontogeny of GABAergic populations in the CNS of the sea lamprey, and studies about the development and chemoarchitecture of different structures of the CNS of the sea lamprey.

Recent Publications:

• Roberts RC, Perez-Costas E (2008) Ultrastructural localization of reelin, Reelin glycoprotein: biology structure and roles, 1st Edition, USA, Fatemi SH (Ed), Springer-Verlag, In Press, ISBN=9780387767604 (bookchapter) web
• Perez-Costas E, Guidetti P, Melendez-Ferro M, Kelley JJ, Roberts RC (2008) Neuroleptics and animal models: feasibility of oral treatments monitored by plasma levels and receptor occupancy assays, The Journal of Neural Transmission, In Press
• Abalo XM, Villar-Cheda B, Meléndez-Ferro M, Pérez-Costas E, Anadón R, Rodicio MC (2007) Development of the serotonergic system in the central nervous system of the sea lamprey., Journal of chemical neuroanatomy, 34 (1-2), 29-46 web
• Perez-Costas E, Melendez-Ferro M, Roberts RC (2007) Microscopy techniques and the study of synapses In A. Mendez-Vilas, J. Diaz (eds), Modern Research and Educational Topics in Microscopy, 3rd edition, Badajoz, Spain, Formatex, ISBN=9788461194193 (bookchapter) book access
• Villar-Cheda B, Perez-Costas E, Melendez-Ferro M, Abalo XM, Rodriguez-Munoz R, Anadon R, Rodicio MC (2006) Cell proliferation of the forebrain and midbrain of the sea lamprey, The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 494: 986-1006 web
• Villar-Cervino V, Abalo XM, Villar-Cheda B, Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Holstein GR, Martinelli GP, Rodicio MC, Anadon R (2006) Presence of glutamate, glycine and GABA in the retina of the larval sea lamprey: a comparative. immunohistochemical study of the classical neurotransmitters in tlarval and postmetamorphic retinas, The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 499: 810-827. web
• Rodicio MC, Villar-Cervino V, Abalo XM, Villar-Cheda B, Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Anadon R (2005) Chemoarchitecture of the dorsal column of the larval sea lamprey, Brain Research Bulletin, 66 (536-540). web
• Perez-Costas E, Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Garcia CG, Caruncho HJ, Rodicio MC (2004) Reelin immunoreactivity in the adult sea lamprey brain, Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 27 (7-21). web
• Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Villar-Cheda B, Rodriguez-Munoz R, Anadon R, Rodicio MC (2003) Ontogeny of gamma-aminobutyric acid-immunoreactive neurons in the rhombencephalon and spinal cord of the sea lamprey., The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 464 (1), 17-35. web
• Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Villar-Cheda B, Abalo XM, Rodriguez-Munoz R, Rodicio MC, Anadon R (2002) Ontogeny of gamma-aminobutyric acid-immunoreactive neuronal populations in the forebrain and midbrain of the sea lamprey., The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 446 (4), 360-76. web
• Perez-Costas E, Melendez-Ferro M, Santos Y, Anadon R, Rodicio MC, Caruncho HJ (2002) Reelin immunoreactivity in the larval sea lamprey brain., Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 23 (3), 211-21. web
• Villar-Cheda B, Perez-Costas E, Melendez-Ferro M, Manoel Abalo X, Rodriguez-Munoz R, Anadon R, Celina Rodicio M (2002) Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity and development of the pineal complex and habenula of the sea lamprey, Brain Research Bulletin, 57(3-4), 285-7. web
• Melendez-Ferro M, Villar-Cheda B, Manoel Abalo X, Perez-Costas E, Rodriguez-Munoz R, Degrip WJ, Yanez J, Rodicio MC, Anadon R (2002) Early development of the retina and pineal complex in the sea lamprey: comparative immunocytochemical study., The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 442 (3), 250-65. web
• Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Rodriguez-Munoz R, Gomez-Lopez MP, Anadon R, Rodicio MC (2001) GABA immunoreactivity in the olfactory bulbs of the adult sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus L., Brain Research, 893 (1-2), 253-60. web
• Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Gonzalez MJ, Pombal MA, Anadon R, Rodicio MC (2000) GABA-immunoreactive internuclear neurons in the ocular motor system of lampreys., Brain Research, 855 (1), 150-7. web 
• Anadon R, Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Pombal MA, Rodicio MC (1998) Centrifugal fibers are the only GABAergic structures of the retina of the larval sea lamprey: an immunocytochemical study., Brain Research, 782 (1-2), 297-30. web

Memberships:
"Pedro Ramon y Cajal" Comparative Neuroanatomy Club

American Association for the Advancement of Science

International Brain Research Organization

Society for Neuroscience

Honors & Awards:
1999-2002, FPU Fellowship, University of Santiago De Compostela (Spain), University of Santiago De Compostela (Spain), Predoctoral Fellowship