Study of the role of dopamine transmission on the neurobiology of addiction. Study of the sensitization of motor responses to dopamine receptor agonists in an animal model of Parkinson disease. Adenosine-dopamine interactions in a rat model of Parkinson disease.

Sandro Fenu was born in 1960. He has received his degree in Biology and the specialization in Toxicology from the University of Cagliari. He has been a visiting professor at the Gene Terapy Center of the Thomas Jefferson University of Philadelphia. He is Assistant Professor in the School of Pharmacy since 2003, where he teachs “General and Drug Toxicology” in the course of “Food, Environment and Drug Toxicology”.

S. Fenu, O. Cauli, M. Morelli: Cross-sensitization between the motor activating effects of bromocriptine and caffeine: role of adenosine A2A receptors. Behav. Brain Research, Vol 114, pp 97-105, 2000.
A Pinna, S. Fenu, M. Morelli: Motor stimulant effects of the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist SCH 58261 do not develop tolerance after repeated treatments in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. Synapse, Vol: 39, pp 233-238, 2001.
Carta, S. Fenu, M. Morelli: Alterations on GAD67, dynorphin and enkephalin mRNA in striatal output neurons following priming in the 6-OHDA model of parkinson’s disease. Neurological Sciences, Vol 22 (1), pp 59-60, 2001.
S. Fenu, E. Acquas, G. Di Chiara: Role of acetylcholine on dopamine D1 receptor agonist-induced turning behaviour in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats: a microdialysis/behavioural study. Neurological Sciences, Vol 22 (1), pp 63-64, 2001ers on dopamine transmission and Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase in the rat nucleus accumbens shell and core. J. Neurochem., in press.
S. Fenu, V. Bassareo, G. Di Chiara: A role for dopamine D1 receptors of the nucleus accumbens shell in conditioned taste aversion. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 21(17), pp 6897-6904, 2001
S. Fenu, G. Di Chiara: Facilitation of conditioned taste aversion learning by systemic amphatamine: role of nucleus accumbens shell dopamine D1 receptors. European J Neuroscience, Vol 18, pp 2025-2039, 2003.
A.R. Carta, S. Fenu, P. Pala, E. Tronci, M. Morelli: Selective modifications in GAD67 mRNA levels in striatonigral and striatopallidal pathways correlate to dopamine agonist priming in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. European J Neuroscience, Vol 18, pp 2563-2572, 2003.
N. Simola, S. Fenu, P.G. Baraldi, M.A. Tabrizi, M. Morelli: Blockade of adenosine A2A receptors antagonizes parkinsonian tremor in the rat tacrine model by an action on specific striatal regions. Experimental Neurology; 189(1):182-8, 2004.
G. Di Chiara, V. Bassareo, S. Fenu, M. A. De Luca, L. Spina, C. Cadoni, E. Acquas, E. Carboni, V. Valentini, D. Lecca: Dopamine and drug addiction: the nucleus accumbens shell connection. Neuropharmacology; 47 Suppl 1:227-41, 2004.
S. Fenu, E. Rivas, G. Di Chiara: Differential role of dopamine in drug- and lithium conditioned saccharin avoidance. Physiology & Behaviour 85(1):37-43, 2005.
L. Spina, S. Fenu, R. Longoni, E. Rivas, G. Di Chiara: Nicotine-conditioned single trial place preference: selective role of nucleus accumbens shell dopamine D1 receptors in acquisition. Psychopharmacology 184(3-4): 447-55, 2006.
Pisanu A, E. Acquas, S. Fenu, G. Di Chiara: Modulation of delta9-THC-induced increase of cortical and hippocampal acetylcholine release by µ opioid and D1 dopamine receptors. Neuropharmacology, May; 50(6):661-70, 2006.
S. Fenu, L. Spina, E. Rivas, R. Longoni, G. Di Chiara: Morphine-conditioned single-trial place preference: role of nucleus accumbens shell dopamine receptors in acquisition. Psychopharmacology Aug;187(2):143-53, 2006.
N. Simola, S. Fenu, P.G. Baraldi, M.A. Tabrizi, M. Morelli: Dopamine and adenosine receptor as basis for the treatment of parkinson’s disease. J Neurol Sci, Oct 25;248(1-2):48-52, 2996.
Simola N, Fenu S, Baraldi PG, Tabrizi MA, Morelli M. Involvement of globus pallidus in the antiparkinsonian effects of adenosine A2A receptor antagonists. Exp Neurol, Nov;202(1):255-7, 2006.