Emma Perez-Costas, Ph.D.

Email: epcostas@uab.edu

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:

• Assistant Professor, primary appointment, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, UAB
• Assistant Professor, secondary appointment, Department of Neurobiology, UAB
• Assistant Professor, secondary appointment, Department of Cell Biology, UAB
• Associate Faculty, Civitan International Research Center (CIRC)

 
Research Interests

• Olfactory system anomalies in schizophrenia. In collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Akira Sawa we are studying by electron microscopy possible anomalies of the olfactory epithelium neurons in schizophrenia
• Pathogenesis of dopaminergic systems in schizophrenia: Our group is studying anomalies in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (the rate enzyme for the production of dopamine) in the substantia nigra (the area of the brain that houses the main populations of dopaminergic neurons). We already have found that protein levels for tyrosine hydroxylase are abnormal in schizophrenia, while mRNA levels are not significantly altered. Currently we are exploring possible relations of this anomaly with schizophrenia subtype and treatment responsiveness.
• 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 dichotomy is generated between the different compartments of the striatum (striosomes and matrix) and which molecules play a major role.

People In The Lab

• Matthew W. Rice, Graduate Student, Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology
• Gloria Sthefanny Hincapie, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Previous Research

• Postdoctoral Research: I did my postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Rosalinda C. Roberts at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (University of Maryland at Baltimore) where I became familiar with electron microscopy techniques and deepened my knowledge on the neuroanatomy of the human brain in health and disease.
• Doctoral Thesis: I did my doctoral thesis work in the laboratories of Dr. Hector J. Caruncho and Dr. Maria Celina Rodicio (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain). My doctoral dissertation showed 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)

 
Recent Publications:

• Melendez-Ferro M, Perez-Costas E, Roberts RC (2008) A new use for long-term frozen brain tissue: Golgi impregnation. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 18789970. web
• Roberts RC, Perez-Costas E (2008) Ultrastructural localization of reelin. In: "Reelin glycoprotein: biology structure and roles" (1st Edition), , USA, Fatemi SH (Ed), Springer-Verlag, ISBN: 978-0-387-76760-4. ISBN=9780387767604 [bookchapter; chapter 8] 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,115(5):745-53. web
• 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:

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Society for Neuroscience
• International Brain Research Organization
• "Pedro Ramon y Cajal" Comparative Neuroanatomy Club

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