PHARMACOLOGY FACULTY
Selected Publications
  • Morgese M, Cassano T, Cuomo V, Giuffrida A. Anti-dyskinetic effects in a rat modelof Parkinson's disease: role of CB1 and TRPV1 receptors. Exp. Neurol. 208:110-119 (2007).
  • Price D.A., Owens W.A., Gould G.G., Frazer A., Roberts J.L., Daws L.C., Giuffrida A. Cannabinoids inhibit dopamine transporter activity in mouse dorsal striatum. J. Neurochem 101:389-396 (2007).
  • Leweke F.M., Giuffrida A., Koethe D., Schreiber D., Nolden B.M., Neatby N.A., Schneider M., Gerth C., Klosterkoetter J., Piomelli D. Anandamide levels in CSF of patients with first-episode schizophrenia or schizophreniform psychosis: relation to cannabis use. Schizophrenia Res. 94:29-36 (2007).
  • Hardison S., Weintraub S., Giuffrida A. Quantification of endocannabinoids in rat biological samples by GC/MS: Technical and theoretical considerations. Prostagland. Lipid Mediators 81:106-112 (2006).
  • Solbrig M.V., Adrian R., Baratta J., Piomelli D., Giuffrida A. A role for endocannabinoids in viral-induced dyskintic and convulsive phenomena. Exp. Neurol. 194:355-362 (2005).
  • Giuffrida A., Leweke F.M., Gerth C.W., Fegley, D., Faulhaber, J., Klosterkoetter J., Valino F., Piomelli D. Elevated anandamide levels negatively correlate with psychotic symptoms of acute schizophrenia. Neuropsycopharmacology 29:2108-2114 (2004).
  • Ferrer B., Asbrock N., Kathuria S., Piomelli D., Giuffrida A. Effects of levodopa on endocannabinoid signaling in the basal ganglia: implications for the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesias. European J. Neurosci. 18: 1607-1614 (2003).
  • Giuffrida A., Beltramo M., Piomelli D. Mechanisms of endocannabinoid inactivation: biochemistry and pharmacology. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 298: 7-14 (2001).
  • Calignano A., Katona I., Desarnaud F., Giuffrida A., La Rana G., Mackie K., Freund T.F., Piomelli D. Bidirectional control of airway responsiveness by endogenous cannabinoids. Nature, 408: 96-101 (2000).
  • Giuffrida A., Rodriguez de Fonseca F., Piomelli D. Quantification of bioactive acylethanolamides in rat plasma by electrospray mass spectrometry. Anal. Biochem. 280: 87-93 (2000).
  • Giuffrida A., Parsons L.H., Kerr T.M., Rodriguéz de Fonseca F., Navarro M., Piomelli D. Dopamine activation of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in dorsal striatum. Nature Neuroscience 2: 358-363 (1999).
Andrea Giuffrida
 

Andrea Giuffrida

Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Ph.D., University of Catania (Italy)

Office: 210-567-4219
Email: giuffrida@uthscsa.edu

 

View video introduction to Dr. Giuffrida's lab

 

Keywords

cannabinoid, anandamide, dopamine, Parkinson disease, schizophrenia, dyskinesias

 

Research Summary

My laboratory is interested in the role played by the endocannabinoid system in regulating psychomotor functions. The endocannabinoids are a family of naturally occurring lipids that mimic the effects of marijuana by stimulating specific receptors (cannabinoid receptors) epressed in the brain areas that are critical for the regulation of motor behaviors, such as the basal ganglia. In addition, the endocannabinoids may serve as an inhibitory feedback signal to counteract dopamine-induced motor activation. Our studies indicate that the endocannabinoid system represents a new pharmacological target for the treatment of diseases characterized by dysregulation of dopamine transmission, such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.

 

We integrate neurochemistry and behavioral pharmacology to study endocannabinoid transmission in animal models of neurological and psychiatric disorders including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and schizophrenia. Our laboratory also investigates the therapeutic effects of cannabinoid-based drugs on levodoopa-induced dyskinesias, a disabling motor complication experienced by Parkinsonian patients undergoing long-term treatment with levodopa.