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.: Theodosis, Dionysia

Programme Committee Member

Dr. Dionysia Theodosis
Institut Francois Magendie
INSERM U.378
1, rue Camille St. Saens
F-33077 Bordeaux, France
Phone: 0033 557 57 37 33
Fax: 0033 557 57 37 50
E-mail: dionysia.theodosis@bordeaux.inserm.fr

Personal

born on 25.07.1945 in Zakinthos, Greece

Curriculum Vitae

Degrees

1966
BSc, McGill University, Montreal
1969
MSc, Univ. Toronto, Toronto
1975
PhD McGill Univ, Montreal

Scientific positions and titles

1967-1969
Research Fellow, NRC, Canada, Dept of Zoology, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto
1969-1970
Technician, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto
1970-1971
Technician, Pathology Inst, McGill University , Montréal
1972-1974
Research Fellow, NRC, Dept. Biology, McGill Univ, Montreal
1974
Research Assistant, Dépt. de Pathologie, Ecole de Médecine, Geneva
1974-1978
Research Assistant, Dépt de Morphologie, Ecole de Médecine, Geneva
1978-1979
Chercheur Poste Orange INSERM, INSERM U.l76 (dir. Prof. J.D. Vincent), Bordeaux
1979-1980
Assistante, Dept. Physiologie, Univ Bordeaux II, Bordeaux
1980-1991
Chargée et Directeur de Recherches INSERM, U l76, Bordeaux
Presently
Directeur de Recherches INSERM (1st class), working in the Laboratory of Morphofunctional Neurobiology INSERM U 378 associated with the University Victor Segalen-Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, France

Postodoctorate activities

1974-1978
Dépt de Morphologie (dir L Orci), Ecole de Médecine, Geneva

Research Activities

Cell biology of exo-endocytosis at neurosecretory terminals
Morphological analyses of the mechanisms controlling the activity of hypothalamic magnocellular neurons secreting oxytocin and vasopressin, neuropeptides intervening in the control of parturition, lactation, cardiovascular and osmotic regulatory mechanisms
Morphological plasticity of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system
Our morphological studies established that the neurons, glia and synaptic inputs of the oxytocinergic system can undergo reversible remodelling in relation to particular physiological stages. Such plasticity modifies glial coverage of oxytocin neurons and the number of synapses driving their acitivity. We also demonstrated the importance of cell surface adhesion molecules in permitting such changes and that oxytocin itself is capable of inducing them. In recent studies, we provided direct evidence of the physiological consequences of such plasticity by showing that glial retraction during lactation affects the efficacy of glutamatergic transmission.

Teaching activities

Director of 8 graduate students for the Thèse d'Université (equivalent to Ph.D) and 8 students for the degree of DEA (equivalent to M.Sc)
Punctual teaching periods in the disciplines of neurocytology (electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry), neuroanatomy and neuroendocrinology
Host to 7 postdoctoral fellows and 3 colleagues on sabbatical

Visiting scientist

1980
Dept of Biochemistry, Univ of Aarrhus, Aarrhus, Denmark (CNRS Fellowship)
1982
Inst für Zellbiologie, Univ of Munich, Munich, Germany (INSERM-DFG Fellowship)
1983
Univ. Inst. of Pathology, Copenhagen (Short-term Fellowship, EMBO)
1985
Inst. Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge l985 (Short Term Fellowships, European Science and Nuffield Foundations)

Other activities

2000-2005
Founder and President of the International Neuroendocrine Federation
1998-2000
President of the International Society of Neuroendocrinology
1999-2001
Treasurer of the Société des Neurosciences
1996-1998
Treasurer of the Club des Cellules Gliales
1998-2000
President of the Club des Cellules Gliales

Memberships

Member of the Société de Neuroendocrinologie Expérimentale and of the Society for Neuroscience
Member of committees for the evaluation of theses
Member of committes for the evaluation of theses and other research units in France
External Evaluator: AFRC, Wellcome Foundation (U.K.), National Science Foundation(U.S.A.), Human Frontiers, Italian Ministry of Education and Research, European Biomed Programme, European Science Foundation
Receiving Editor (until 1996) of the Journal of Neuroendocrinology
Reviewing Editor of Neuroscience
Member of the Editorial Board of Frontiers of Neuroendocrinology
Reviewer for Eur J Neurosci, J Neurosci, J Comp Neurol, Glia, Brain Res, J Neuroendocrinol, Neuroendocrinology, J Neurocytology etc
Organiser of the 2nd European Meeting on Glial Cell Function, April 1996, Archachon, France
Member of the Local Organising and/or the International Scientific Committee of
the World Congress on Neurohypophysial Hormones WCNH, Bordeaux Sept 2001; Kyoto Sept 2003; Colorado July 2005; Regensburg Sept 2007
The European Meeting on Glial Cell Function, Berlin Sept 2003; Amsterdam May 2005; London Sept 2007
The Meeting of the Sociéte des Neurosciences, May 2001, Toulouse, France
The FENS meeting, July 2002, Paris
The Meeting of the International Neuroendocrine Federation, September 2002, Bristol, UK

Selected Publications

  • Theodosis DT, Dreifuss JJ, Harris MC and Orci L Secretion-related uptake of horseradish peroxidase in neurohypophysial axons. J Cell Biol, 1976, 70 : 294.
  • Theodosis DT, Legendre P, Cooke I and Vincent JD Immunocytochemically identified vasopressin neurons in monolayer culture display slow, calcium-dependent electrical responses. Science, 1983, 221 : 1052.
  • Theodosis DT and Poulain DA Evidence for structural plasticity in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat hypothalamus in relation to gestation and lactation. Neuroscience, 1984, 11 : 183.
  • Theodosis DT 0xytocin immunoreactive terminals synapse on oxytocin neurons in the supraoptic nucleus. Nature, 1985, 313 : 682
  • Theodosis DT, Montagnese C, Rodriguez F, Vincent JD and Poulain DA Oxytocin induces morphological plasticity in the adult hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Nature, 1986, 322 : 738.
  • Theodosis DT and Poulain DA 0xytocin-secreting neurones: a physiological model for structural plasticity in the adult mammalian brain . Tr Neurosci, 1987, 10 : 426 (review).
  • Theodosis DT, Rougon G and Poulain DA Retention of embryonic features by an adult neuronal center capable of plasticity: embryonic N-CAM in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1991, 88 : 5494.
  • Theodosis DT and Poulain DA. Activity-dependent neuronal-glial and synaptic plasticity in the adult mammalian hypothalamus. Neuroscience, 1993, 57 : 501 (review).
  • Theodosis DT and MacVicar B Neuronal-glial interactions in the hypothalamus and pituitary. Tr Neurosci, 1996, 19, 363 (review).
  • Pierre K, Rougon G, Allard M, Bonhomme R, Gennarini G, PoulainDA and Theodosis DT Regulated expression of the cell adhesion glycoprotein F3 in adult hypothalamic magnocellular neurons. J. Neurosci, 1998, 18, 5333.
  • Theodosis DT, BonhommeR, Vittielo S, Rougon G and Poulain DA Cell surface expression of polysialic acid on NCAM is a prerequisite for activity-dependent morphological neuronal and glial plasticity. J Neurosci, 1999,19,10228.
  • Theodosis DT Oxytocin-secreting neurons: a physiological model of morphological neuronal and glial plasticity in the adult hypothalamus. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 2002, 23, 101 (review).
  • Langle S, Poulain DA, Theodosis DT Induction of rapid, activiy-dependent neuronal-glial remodeling in the adult hypothalamus. Eur J Neurosci 2003, 18, 206.
  • Israel J-M, Schipke CG, Ohlemeyer C, Theodosis DT, Kettenmann H GABA-A receptor-expressing astrocytes in the supraoptic nucleus lack glutamate uptake and receptor currents. Glia, 2003, 44, 102.
  • Oliet SHR, Piet R, Poulain DA, Theodosis DT Glial modulation of synaptic transmission: insights from the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. Glia 2004, 47, 258 (review)
  • Monlezun S, Ouali S, Poulain DA, Theodosis DT Polysialic acid is required for active phases of morphological plasticity of neurosecretory axons and their glia. Mol Cell Neurosci 2005, 29, 516.
  • Panatier A, Theodosis DT, Mothet JP, Touquet B, Pollegioni L, Poulain DA, Oliet SH.Glia-derived D-serine controls NMDA receptor activity and synaptic memory.Cell. 2006, 125:775.
  • Theodosis DT, Koksma JJ, Trailin A, Langle SL, Piet R, Lodder JC, Timmerman J, Mansvelder H, Poulain DA, Oliet SH, Brussaard AB. Oxytocin and estrogen promote rapid formation of functional GABA synapses in the adult supraoptic nucleus. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2006 31:785.