The major research interests are focused on:1) Role of monoamines in the mechanism of action of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs. 2) Role of dopamine in the mechanism of action of drugs of abuse.

Valentina Valentini has received her degree in Biology (1994) and the specialization in Toxicology at the University of Cagliari (1998). Since 1999 she is researcher in the School of Farmacy of the University of Cagliari, and actually she is assistant professor of “Pharmacology and Toxicology”  in the School of Pharmacy of the University of Cagliari.

Pinna A, Corsi C, Carta AR, Valentini V, Pedata F, Morelli M. Modification of adenosine extracellular levels and adenosine A(2A) receptor mRNA by dopamine denervation. Eur J Pharmacol. 2002 Jun 20;446(1-3):75-82
Cauli O, Pinna A, Valentini V, Morelli M. Subchronic caffeine exposure induces sensitization to caffeine and cross-sensitization to amphetamine ipsilateral turning behavior independent from dopamine release. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2003 Oct;28(10):1752-9.
Cadoni C, Solinas M, Valentini V, Di Chiara G. Selective psychostimulant sensitization by food restriction: differential changes in accumbens shell and core dopamine. Eur J Neurosci. 2003 Oct;18(8):2326-34.
Carboni E, Silvagni A, Valentini V, Di Chiara G. Effect of amphetamine, cocaine and depolarization by high potassium on extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens shell of SHR rats. An in vivo microdyalisis study. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2003 Nov;27(7):653-9.
V. Valentini, R. Frau, G. Di Chiara. Noradrenaline transporter blockers raise extracellular dopamine in medial prefrontal but not parietal and occipital cortex: differences with mianserin and clozapine. Journal of Neurochemistry 2004; 88 (4): 917-927.
V. Valentini, F. Cacciapaglia, R. Frau, G. Di Chiara. Selective serotonin reuptake blockade increases extracellular dopamine in noradrenaline-rich isocortical but not prefrontal areas: dependence on 5-HT1A receptors and independence from noradrenergic innervation. Journal of Neurochemistry 2005; Apr;93(2):371-82.
V. Valentini, F. Cacciapaglia, R. Frau, G. Di Chiara. Differential alpha2 mediated inhibition of dopamine and noradrenaline release in the parietal and occipital cortex following noradrenaline transporter blockade. Journal of Neurochemistry 2006; Jul;98(1):113-21.
Lecca D., Cacciapaglia F., Valentini V., Gronli J., Spiga S. and Di Chiara G. Preferential increase of extracellular dopamine in the rat nucleus accumbens shell as compared to the core during acquisition and maintenance of intravenous nicotine self-administration. Psychopharmacology, 184: 435-436, 2006.
Lecca D., Cacciapaglia F., Valentini V. and Di Chiara G. Monitoring extracellular dopamine in the rat nucleus accumbens shell and core during acquisition and maintenance of intravenous WIN 55,212-2 self-administration. Psychopharmacology, 188: 63-74, 2006.
Lecca D., Valentini V., Cacciapaglia F., Acquas E. and Di Chiara G. Differential neurochemical and behavioral sequelae of repeated response contingent and non contingent cocaine administration in the rat. Psychopharmacology 2006 DOI 10.1007/s00213-006-0496-yISSN: 0033-3158.
Lecca D., Valentini V., Cacciapaglia F., Acquas E. and Di Chiara G. Reciprocal effects of response contingent and non-contingent intravenous heroin on in vivo nucleus accumbens shell versus core dopamine: a repeated sampling microdialysis study. Psychopharmacology (under revision).