Priv. Doz. Dr. Gabor Petzold
Group Leader
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
Biomedical Center (BMZ1), Building 344
Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25
53127 Bonn
petzoldlab(at)dzne.de
+49 (0) 228 / 287-51625
More information
Areas of investigation/research focus
Changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) are centrally involved in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. A prominent example is stroke (cerebral ischemia), in which blood flow to a brain region is acutely reduced or completely blocked. Moreover, a milder but chronic reduction in CBF can lead to cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, i. e. the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. Despite its prevalence and socioeconomic impact, the pathogenesis and therapeutic options of vascular dementia have remained largely unexplored.
In addition to these primarily vascular disorders, it has become increasingly apparent in recent years that profound changes in CBF also occur in many neurodegenerative disorders. For example, cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and dyslipidemia are important risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, CBF dysregulation occurs very early in many neurodegenerative diseases, indicating that the disruption of CBF may constitute an initial and common step in the pathogenesis of these disorders, and that augmentation of CBF may prove therapeutically beneficial.
We aim to identify the cellular signaling pathways and mechanisms responsible for the changes in CBF regulation in acute neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we seek to investigate how neurodegeneration may increase the brain’s vulnerability for CBF disruption. We are particularly interested in the role of astrocytes. These glial cells are involved in the pathogenesis in many neurodegenerative disorders (e. g. Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, amytrophic lateral sclerosis). Moreover, we have recently shown that they are central regulators of CBF under physiological conditions, indicating that a perturbation of astrocytic pathways may underlie vascular dysregulation in neurological diseases.
We investigate these questions in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, stroke, and diabetes, using techniques such as in vivo two-photon microscopy, MRI, electropyhsiology, genetic and pharmacological calcium indicators, and behavioral tests.
In addition, we seek to translate our experimental findings into clinical studies. To this end, we are involved in the conception and execution of a number of clinical studies investigating therapeutic strategies in stroke, as well as the mechanisms of vascular cognitive impairment.
Publications
Role of astrocytes in functional hyperemia.
Petzold GC, Murthy VN (2011).Neuron 71: 782-797.
Serotonergic modulation of odor input to the mammalian olfactory bulb.
Petzold GC, Hagiwara A, Murthy VN (2009).Nature Neuroscience 12: 784-791.
The NALP3 inflammasome is involved in the innate immune response to amyloid-beta.
Halle A, Hornung V, Petzold GC, Stewart CR, Monks BG, Reinheckel T, Fitzgerald KA, Latz E, Moore KJ, Golenbock DT (2008).Nature Immunology 9: 857-865.
Coupling of neural activity to blood flow in olfactory glomeruli is mediated by astrocytic pathways.
Petzold GC, Albeanu DF, Sato TF, Murthy VN (2008).Neuron 58: 897-910.
Nitric oxide modulates spreading depolarization threshold in human and rodent cortex.
Petzold GC, Haack S, von Bohlen und Halbach O, Priller J, Lehmann TN, Heinemann U, Dirnagl U, Dreier JP (2008).Stroke 39: 1292-1299.
Experience-dependent modification of sensory synapses in the olfactory bulb.
Tyler WJ, Petzold GC, Pal SK, Murthy VN (2007).Journal of Neuroscience 27: 9427-9438.
Endothelin-1-induced spreading depression in rats is associated with a microarea of selective neuronal necrosis.
Dreier JP, Kleeberg J, Alam M, Major S, Kohl-Bareis M, Petzold GC, Victorov I, Dirnagl U, Obrenovitch TP, Priller J (2007).Experimental Biology and Medicine 232: 204-213.
Adult onset leucoencephalopathy with brain stem and spinal cord involvement and normal lactate.
Petzold GC, Bohner G, Klingebiel R, Amberger N, van der Knaap MS, Zschenderlein R (2006).Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 77: 889-891.
Repetitive spreading depression-like events result in cell damage in juvenile hippocampal slice cultures maintained in normoxia.
Pomper JK, Haack S, Petzold GC, Buchheim K, Gabriel S, Hoffmann U, Heinemann U (2006).Journal of Neurophysiology 95: 355-368.
Nitric oxide modulates calcium entry through P/Q-type calcium channels and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors in rat cortical neurons.
Petzold GC, Scheibe F, Braun JS, Freyer D, Priller J, Dirnagl U, Dreier JP (2005).Brain Research 1063: 9-14.
Opening of the blood-brain barrier preceding cortical edema in a severe attack of FHM type II.
Dreier JP, Jurkat-Rott K, Petzold GC, Tomkins O, Klingebiel R, Kopp UA, Lehmann-Horn F, Friedman A, Dichgans M (2005).Neurology 64: 2145-2147.
Increased extracellular K+ concentration reduces the efficacy of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists to block spreading depression-like depolarizations and spreading ischemia.
Petzold GC, Windmüller O, Haack S, Major S, Buchheim K, Megow D, Gabriel S, Lehmann TN, Drenckhahn C, Peters O, Meierkord H, Heinemann U, Dirnagl U, Dreier JP (2005).Stroke 36: 1270-1277.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
Petzold GC, Stiepani H, Klingebiel R, Zschenderlein R (2005).European Journal of Neurology 12: 735-736.
Variability of familial hemiplegic migraine with novel A1A2 Na+/K+-ATPase variants.
Jurkat-Rott K, Freilinger T, Dreier JP, Herzog J, Göbel H, Petzold GC, Montagna P, Gasser T, Lehmann-Horn F, Dichgans M (2004).Neurology 62: 1857-1861.
False-positive pulvinar sign on MRI in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Petzold GC, Westner I, Bohner G, Einhäupl KM, Kretzschmar HA, Valdueza JM (2004).Neurology 62: 1235-1236.
Endothelin-1 induces cortical spreading depression via activation of the ETA receptor/phospholipase C pathway in vivo.
Kleeberg J, Petzold GC, Major S, Dirnagl U, Dreier JP (2004).American Journal of Physiology 286: H1339-1346.
Cerebral metastasis of renal carcinoma mimicking venous haemorrhagic infarction.
Petzold GC, Zimmer C, Valdueza JM (2004).Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 75: 477.
Rhabdomyolysis and paraneoplastic stiff-man syndrome with amphiphysin autoimmunity.
Petzold GC, Marcucci M, Butler MH, van Landeghem FKH, Einhäupl KM, Solimena M, Valdueza JM, De Camilli P (2004).Annals of Neurology 55: 286-290.
Ischemia triggered by spreading neuronal activation is induced by endothelin-1 and hemoglobin in the subarachnoid space.
Petzold GC, Einhäupl KM, Dirnagl U, Dreier JP (2003).Annals of Neurology 54: 591-598.
Migraine-induced stroke in a patient with migraine-related epilepsy.
Petzold GC, Klingebiel R, Einhäupl KM, Arnold G, Valdueza JM, Dreier JP (2003).Headache 43: 694-696.
Cluster-like headache time-locked to the menstrual cycle.
Petzold GC, Dreier JP, Einhäupl KM, Arnold G (2003).Neurology 60: 1049.
Persistent bitter taste as an initial symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Petzold GC, Einhäupl KM, Valdueza JM (2003).Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 74: 687-688.
Ischemia triggered by red blood cell products in the subarachnoid space is inhibited by nimodipine administration or moderate volume expansion/hemodilution in rats.
Dreier JP, Windmüller O, Petzold G, Lindauer U, Einhäupl KM, Dirnagl U (2002).Neurosurgery 51: 1457-1465.
Endothelin-1 potently induces Leão’s cortical spreading depression in vivo in the rat: A model for an endothelial trigger of migrainous aura?
Dreier JP, Kleeberg J, Petzold GC, Priller J, Windmüller O, Orzechowski HD, Lindauer U, Heinemann U, Einhäupl KM & Dirnagl U (2002).Brain 125: 102-112.
Ischaemia triggered by spreading neuronal activation is inhibited by vasodilators in rats.
Dreier JP, Petzold G, Tille K, Lindauer U, Arnold G, Heinemann U, Einhäupl KM, Dirnagl U (2001).J Physiol 531: 515-526.
Cellular localization of the disintegrin CRII-7/rMDC15 mRNA in rat PNS and CNS and regulated expression in postnatal development and after nerve injury.
Bosse F, Petzold G, Greiner-Petter R, Pippirs U, Gillen C, Müller HW (2000).Glia 32: 313-327.