Main research interest concerns studies in different experimental models of Parkinson’s disease: 1) studies of neuronal circuitry implicated in the development of motor impairment and in mechanisms underling L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, in the 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson’s disease. These studies involve behavioural experiments and the use of in situ hybridization for the evaluation of mRNA species in basal ganglia nuclei. 2) studies on the modulation of adenosine transmission as a therapeutic tool in Parkinson’s disease. A2A receptor antagonists are investigated as regard to their efficacy in counteracting parkinsonian symptoms as well as regard to their neuroprotective properties. These studies are performed by mean of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson’s disease.

Anna R Carta is assistant professor since 2001 in the School of Pharmacy, where she teaches “Environmental Toxicology”. After receiving her Higher Degree in Pharmacy in 1992, she achieved the Ph.D. in Toxicology at the University of Cagliari. From 1995 to 1999 she was a Post-doc at the National Institute of Mental Health of Bethesda (MD).

Simola N, Morelli M and Carta AR. Neurotox Res. 2007, in press.
Carta AR, Pinna A, Morelli M. Behav. Pharmacol. 2006 Sep;17(5-6):393-402.
AR Carta, E Tronci, A Pinna, M Morelli. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2005, 21, 1196-1204.
AR Carta, A Pinna, E Tronci and M Morelli. The Basal Ganglia VIII, 2005.
Anna R Carta, Mojgan Aghazadeh Tabrizi,Pier G.Baraldi, Annalisa Pinna, Paola Pala and Micaela Morelli. Exp Neurol, 2004, 184/2, 679-687.
AR Carta, S. Fenu, P. Pala, E. Tronci and M. Morelli. Eur J Neurosci, 2003, 18, 2563-2572.
Anna R Carta, Annalisa Pinna and Micaela Morelli. Neurology, 2003, 61 (Suppl 6), S39-S43.