![Giuseppe Di Giovanni Professor BSc, MSc, PhD](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/6401?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Giuseppe Di Giovanni
(he/him)
Professor BSc, MSc, PhD
Teams and roles for Giuseppe Di Giovanni
Honorary Professor
School of Biosciences
Overview
Research overview
Studies in Professor Giuseppe Di Giovanni's Laboratory include:-
- Lateral habenula in nicotine addiction and depression.
- Serotoninergic system in epilepsy and co-morbid cognitive impairment.
- Cannabinoids as a potential therapeutic target for Absence Epilepsy.
- Gender differences in long-term damaging effects of binge drinking and cannabis abuse.
Publication
2025
- Butler, J. J. et al., 2025. 5-HT2A receptors shape whole-brain monoaminergic coherence in male mice. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 141 111437. (10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111437)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2025. Different behavioral expression of adolescent male and female rats in Hole-Board evaluated through quantitative and T-pattern analysis. Physiology & Behavior 299 114985. (10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.114985)
- Montebello, G. and Di Giovanni, G. 2025. Dysregulation of the cannabinoid system in childhood epilepsy: From mechanisms to therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (13) 6234. (10.3390/ijms26136234)
- Neuparth-Sottomayor, M. et al., 2025. Impairment of spatial working memory but preservation of recognition memory in female rats with spontaneous absence seizures. Neurochemical Research 50 (4) 236. (10.1007/s11064-025-04485-w)
2024
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2024. Sex-dependent behavioral effects of chronic nicotine during adolescence evaluated in young adult rats tested in Hole-Board. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 133 111034. (10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111034)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2024. A quantitative and T‐pattern analysis of anxiety‐like behavior in male GAERS, NEC, and Wistar rats bred under the same conditions, against a commercially available Wistar control group in the hole board and elevated plus maze tests. CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics 30 (3) e14443. (10.1111/cns.14443)
2023
- Abela, N. , Haywood, K. and Di Giovanni, G. 2023. Alcohol and cannabinoid binges and daily exposure to nicotine in adolescent/young adult rats induce sex-dependent long-term appetitive instrumental learning impairment. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17 1129866. (10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1129866)
- Arias, H. R. et al., 2023. (+)-Catharanthine and (-)-18-methoxycoronaridine induce antidepressant-like activity in mice by differently recruiting serotonergic and norepinephrinergic neurotransmission. European Journal of Pharmacology 939 175454. (10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175454)
- Arias, H. R. et al., 2023. Coronaridine congeners induce sedative and anxiolytic-like activity in naïve and stressed/anxious mice by allosteric mechanisms involving increased GABAA receptor affinity for GABA. European Journal of Pharmacology 953 175854. (10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175854)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2023. The Hole-Board apparatus in the study of anxiety. Physiology & Behavior 271 114346. (10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114346)
- Neuparth-Sottomayor, M. et al., 2023. Cognitive comorbidities of experimental absence seizures are independent of anxiety. Neurobiology of Disease 186 106275. (10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106275)
- Peters, J. , Trabace, L. and Di Giovanni, G. 2023. Editorial: The role of alcohol in modifying behavior. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17 1175405. (10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1175405)
2022
- Cassar, D. et al., 2022. The effect of cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212–2 on anxiety-like behavior and locomotion in a genetic model of absence seizures in the elevated plus-maze. CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics 28 (8), pp.1268-1270. (10.1111/cns.13848)
- Chagraoui, A. , Di Giovanni, G. and De Deurwaerdère, P. 2022. Neurobiological and pharmacological perspectives of D3 receptors in Parkinson's disease. Biomolecules 12 (2) 243. (10.3390/biom12020243)
- De Deurwaerdère, P. and Di Giovanni, G. 2022. Pathophysiology of the serotonin system in the nervous system and beyond. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 (9) 4712. (10.3390/ijms23094712)
- De Deurwaerdère, P. et al., 2022. Editorial: new GPCR targets and modulators to treat CNS disorders. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 15 1104336. (10.3389/fnmol.2022.1104336)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. et al., 2022. In vivo study of monoamine oxidases using multisite intracerebral microdialysis. In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Monoamine Oxidase. Vol. 2558, Methods in Molecular Biology Humana, New York: Springer. , pp.183-195. (10.1007/978-1-0716-2643-6_14)
- Pierucci, M. et al., 2022. Nicotine modulation of the lateral habenula/ventral tegmental area circuit dynamics: An electrophysiological study in rats. Neuropharmacology 202 108859. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108859)
2021
- Beyeler, A. et al., 2021. Multiple facets of serotonergic modulation. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part B. Vol. 261, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.3-39. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.02.002)
- Bombardi, C. et al., 2021. Lateral habenula 5-HT2C receptor function Is altered by acute and chronic nicotine exposures. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 (9) 4775. (10.3390/ijms22094775)
- Bombardi, C. et al., 2021. Serotonin modulation of hippocampal functions: From anatomy to neurotherapeutics. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part B. Vol. 261, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.83-158. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.031)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2021. The impact of chronic daily nicotine exposure and its overnight withdrawal on the structure of anxiety-related behaviors in rats: Role of the lateral habenula. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 105 110131. (10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110131)
- Casarrubea, M. , Di Giovanni, G. and Crescimanno, G. 2021. Effects of different anxiety levels on the behavioral patternings investigated through T-pattern analysis in Wistar rats tested in the Hole-Board apparatus. Brain Sciences 11 (6) 714. (10.3390/brainsci11060714)
- Colangeli, R. , Teskey, G. C. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. Endocannabinoid-serotonin systems interaction in health and disease. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part A. Vol. 259, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.83-134. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.003)
- De Deurwaerdère, P. , Chagraoui, A. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. Serotonin/dopamine interaction: Electrophysiological and neurochemical evidence. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part B. Vol. 261, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.161-264. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.02.001)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. 5-HT interaction with other neurotransmitters: an overview. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part A. Vol. 259, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.1-5. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.001)
- Deidda, G. , Crunelli, V. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. 5-HT/GABA interaction in epilepsy. In: Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 259, ELSEVIER. , pp.265-286. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.008)
- Deidda, G. et al., 2021. 5-HT/GABA interaction in neurodevelopment and plasticity. In: Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 259, ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. , pp.287-317. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.009)
- Gazea, M. et al., 2021. Reciprocal lateral hypothalamic and raphe GABAergic projections promote wakefulness. Journal of Neuroscience 41 (22), pp.4840-4849. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2850-20.2021)
- Grillo, A. et al., 2021. Selective fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors as potential novel antiepileptic agents. ACS Chemical Neuroscience 12 (9), pp.1716. (10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00192)
2020
- Crunelli, V. et al. 2020. Clinical and experimental insight in pathophysiology, comorbidity and therapy of absence seizures. Brain 143 (8), pp.2341-2368. (10.1093/brain/awaa072)
2018
- Bombardi, C. et al., 2018. Developmental changes of GABA immunoreactivity in cortico-thalamic networks of an absence seizure model. Neuropharmacology 136 (Part A), pp.56-67. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.047)
- Colangeli, R. et al., 2018. The FAAH inhibitor URB597 suppresses hippocampal maximal dentate after-discharges and restores seizure-induced impairment of short and long-term synaptic plasticity. Scientific Reports 7 11152. (10.1038/s41598-017-11606-1)
- David, F. et al. 2018. Suppression of HCN channel function in thalamocortical neurons prevents genetically determined and pharmacologically induced absence seizures. Journal of Neuroscience 38 (30), pp.6615-6627. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0896-17.2018)
- Di Giovanni, G. , Crunelli, V. and Rizzolatti, G. 2018. Editorial: Interdisciplinary approaches for neuropathology. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 24 (8), pp.665-668. (10.1111/cns.13004)
- McCafferty, C. et al. 2018. Cortical drive and thalamic feed-forward inhibition control thalamic output synchrony during absence seizures. Nature Neuroscience 21 , pp.744-756. (10.1038/s41593-018-0130-4)
2017
- Bortolato, M. and Di Giovanni, G. 2017. Editorial on Special Issue: Animal models of Tourette syndrome. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 292 , pp.1. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.10.008)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. , Di Giovanni, G. and Millan, M. J. 2017. Expanding the repertoire of L-DOPA's actions: A comprehensive review of its functional neurochemistry. Progress in Neurobiology 151 , pp.57-100. (10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.07.002)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. , Ramsay, R. R. and Di Giovanni, G. 2017. Neurobiology and neuropharmacology of monoaminergic systems. Progress in Neurobiology 151 , pp.1-3. (10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.02.001)
- Schiavone, S. et al., 2017. Early loss of blood-brain barrier integrity precedes NOX2 elevation in the prefrontal cortex of an animal model of psychosis. Molecular Neurobiology 54 (3), pp.2031-2044. (10.1007/s12035-016-9791-8)
- Simic, G. et al., 2017. Monoaminergic neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease. Progress in Neurobiology 151 , pp.101-138. (10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.04.001)
2016
- Venzi, M. et al. 2016. Role for serotonin2A (5-HT2A) and 2C (5-HT2C) receptors in experimental absence seizures. Neuropharmacology 108 , pp.292-304. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.04.016)
2015
- Crunelli, V. and Di Giovanni, G. 2015. Differential control by 5-HT and 5-HT1A, 2A, 2C receptors of phasic and tonic GABAA inhibition in the visual thalamus [Letter]. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 21 (12), pp.967-970. (10.1111/cns.12480)
- Venzi, M. , Di Giovanni, G. and Crunelli, V. 2015. A critical evaluation of the Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) model of absence seizures. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 21 (2), pp.123-140. (10.1111/cns.12337)
2014
- Crunelli, V. and Di Giovanni, G. 2014. Monoamine modulation of tonic GABAA inhibition. Reviews in the Neurosciences 25 (2), pp.195-206. (10.1515/revneuro-2013-0059)
- Godar, S. C. et al., 2014. Animal models of tic disorders: a translational perspective. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 238 , pp.54-69. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.09.008)
- Taylor, H. L. et al. 2014. Investigating local and long-range neuronal network dynamics by simultaneous optogenetics, reverse microdialysis and silicon probe recordings in vivo. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 235 , pp.83-91. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.06.031)
2013
- David, F. et al. 2013. Essential thalamic contribution to slow waves of natural sleep. Journal of Neuroscience 33 (50) 19599. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3169-13.2013)
- Yagüe, J. G. et al., 2013. Dopaminergic modulation of tonic but not phasic GABAA-receptor-mediated current in the ventrobasal thalamus of Wistar and GAERS rats. Experimental Neurology 247 , pp.1-7. (10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.03.023)
2011
- Errington, A. C. et al. 2011. mGluR control of interneuron output regulates feedforward tonic GABAA inhibition in the visual thalamus. Journal of Neuroscience 31 (23), pp.8669-8680. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0317-11.2011)
2009
- Cope, D. W. et al. 2009. Enhanced tonic GABA(A) inhibition in typical absence epilepsy. Nature Medicine 15 (12), pp.1392-1398. (10.1038/nm.2058)
Articles
- Abela, N. , Haywood, K. and Di Giovanni, G. 2023. Alcohol and cannabinoid binges and daily exposure to nicotine in adolescent/young adult rats induce sex-dependent long-term appetitive instrumental learning impairment. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17 1129866. (10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1129866)
- Arias, H. R. et al., 2023. (+)-Catharanthine and (-)-18-methoxycoronaridine induce antidepressant-like activity in mice by differently recruiting serotonergic and norepinephrinergic neurotransmission. European Journal of Pharmacology 939 175454. (10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175454)
- Arias, H. R. et al., 2023. Coronaridine congeners induce sedative and anxiolytic-like activity in naïve and stressed/anxious mice by allosteric mechanisms involving increased GABAA receptor affinity for GABA. European Journal of Pharmacology 953 175854. (10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175854)
- Bombardi, C. et al., 2021. Lateral habenula 5-HT2C receptor function Is altered by acute and chronic nicotine exposures. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 (9) 4775. (10.3390/ijms22094775)
- Bombardi, C. et al., 2018. Developmental changes of GABA immunoreactivity in cortico-thalamic networks of an absence seizure model. Neuropharmacology 136 (Part A), pp.56-67. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.047)
- Bortolato, M. and Di Giovanni, G. 2017. Editorial on Special Issue: Animal models of Tourette syndrome. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 292 , pp.1. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.10.008)
- Butler, J. J. et al., 2025. 5-HT2A receptors shape whole-brain monoaminergic coherence in male mice. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 141 111437. (10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111437)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2024. Sex-dependent behavioral effects of chronic nicotine during adolescence evaluated in young adult rats tested in Hole-Board. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 133 111034. (10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111034)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2025. Different behavioral expression of adolescent male and female rats in Hole-Board evaluated through quantitative and T-pattern analysis. Physiology & Behavior 299 114985. (10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.114985)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2021. The impact of chronic daily nicotine exposure and its overnight withdrawal on the structure of anxiety-related behaviors in rats: Role of the lateral habenula. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 105 110131. (10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110131)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2023. The Hole-Board apparatus in the study of anxiety. Physiology & Behavior 271 114346. (10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114346)
- Casarrubea, M. , Di Giovanni, G. and Crescimanno, G. 2021. Effects of different anxiety levels on the behavioral patternings investigated through T-pattern analysis in Wistar rats tested in the Hole-Board apparatus. Brain Sciences 11 (6) 714. (10.3390/brainsci11060714)
- Casarrubea, M. et al., 2024. A quantitative and T‐pattern analysis of anxiety‐like behavior in male GAERS, NEC, and Wistar rats bred under the same conditions, against a commercially available Wistar control group in the hole board and elevated plus maze tests. CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics 30 (3) e14443. (10.1111/cns.14443)
- Cassar, D. et al., 2022. The effect of cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212–2 on anxiety-like behavior and locomotion in a genetic model of absence seizures in the elevated plus-maze. CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics 28 (8), pp.1268-1270. (10.1111/cns.13848)
- Chagraoui, A. , Di Giovanni, G. and De Deurwaerdère, P. 2022. Neurobiological and pharmacological perspectives of D3 receptors in Parkinson's disease. Biomolecules 12 (2) 243. (10.3390/biom12020243)
- Colangeli, R. et al., 2018. The FAAH inhibitor URB597 suppresses hippocampal maximal dentate after-discharges and restores seizure-induced impairment of short and long-term synaptic plasticity. Scientific Reports 7 11152. (10.1038/s41598-017-11606-1)
- Cope, D. W. et al. 2009. Enhanced tonic GABA(A) inhibition in typical absence epilepsy. Nature Medicine 15 (12), pp.1392-1398. (10.1038/nm.2058)
- Crunelli, V. and Di Giovanni, G. 2015. Differential control by 5-HT and 5-HT1A, 2A, 2C receptors of phasic and tonic GABAA inhibition in the visual thalamus [Letter]. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 21 (12), pp.967-970. (10.1111/cns.12480)
- Crunelli, V. and Di Giovanni, G. 2014. Monoamine modulation of tonic GABAA inhibition. Reviews in the Neurosciences 25 (2), pp.195-206. (10.1515/revneuro-2013-0059)
- Crunelli, V. et al. 2020. Clinical and experimental insight in pathophysiology, comorbidity and therapy of absence seizures. Brain 143 (8), pp.2341-2368. (10.1093/brain/awaa072)
- David, F. et al. 2018. Suppression of HCN channel function in thalamocortical neurons prevents genetically determined and pharmacologically induced absence seizures. Journal of Neuroscience 38 (30), pp.6615-6627. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0896-17.2018)
- David, F. et al. 2013. Essential thalamic contribution to slow waves of natural sleep. Journal of Neuroscience 33 (50) 19599. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3169-13.2013)
- De Deurwaerdère, P. and Di Giovanni, G. 2022. Pathophysiology of the serotonin system in the nervous system and beyond. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 (9) 4712. (10.3390/ijms23094712)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. , Di Giovanni, G. and Millan, M. J. 2017. Expanding the repertoire of L-DOPA's actions: A comprehensive review of its functional neurochemistry. Progress in Neurobiology 151 , pp.57-100. (10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.07.002)
- De Deurwaerdère, P. et al., 2022. Editorial: new GPCR targets and modulators to treat CNS disorders. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 15 1104336. (10.3389/fnmol.2022.1104336)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. , Ramsay, R. R. and Di Giovanni, G. 2017. Neurobiology and neuropharmacology of monoaminergic systems. Progress in Neurobiology 151 , pp.1-3. (10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.02.001)
- Di Giovanni, G. , Crunelli, V. and Rizzolatti, G. 2018. Editorial: Interdisciplinary approaches for neuropathology. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 24 (8), pp.665-668. (10.1111/cns.13004)
- Errington, A. C. et al. 2011. mGluR control of interneuron output regulates feedforward tonic GABAA inhibition in the visual thalamus. Journal of Neuroscience 31 (23), pp.8669-8680. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0317-11.2011)
- Gazea, M. et al., 2021. Reciprocal lateral hypothalamic and raphe GABAergic projections promote wakefulness. Journal of Neuroscience 41 (22), pp.4840-4849. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2850-20.2021)
- Godar, S. C. et al., 2014. Animal models of tic disorders: a translational perspective. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 238 , pp.54-69. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.09.008)
- Grillo, A. et al., 2021. Selective fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors as potential novel antiepileptic agents. ACS Chemical Neuroscience 12 (9), pp.1716. (10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00192)
- McCafferty, C. et al. 2018. Cortical drive and thalamic feed-forward inhibition control thalamic output synchrony during absence seizures. Nature Neuroscience 21 , pp.744-756. (10.1038/s41593-018-0130-4)
- Montebello, G. and Di Giovanni, G. 2025. Dysregulation of the cannabinoid system in childhood epilepsy: From mechanisms to therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (13) 6234. (10.3390/ijms26136234)
- Neuparth-Sottomayor, M. et al., 2025. Impairment of spatial working memory but preservation of recognition memory in female rats with spontaneous absence seizures. Neurochemical Research 50 (4) 236. (10.1007/s11064-025-04485-w)
- Neuparth-Sottomayor, M. et al., 2023. Cognitive comorbidities of experimental absence seizures are independent of anxiety. Neurobiology of Disease 186 106275. (10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106275)
- Peters, J. , Trabace, L. and Di Giovanni, G. 2023. Editorial: The role of alcohol in modifying behavior. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17 1175405. (10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1175405)
- Pierucci, M. et al., 2022. Nicotine modulation of the lateral habenula/ventral tegmental area circuit dynamics: An electrophysiological study in rats. Neuropharmacology 202 108859. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108859)
- Schiavone, S. et al., 2017. Early loss of blood-brain barrier integrity precedes NOX2 elevation in the prefrontal cortex of an animal model of psychosis. Molecular Neurobiology 54 (3), pp.2031-2044. (10.1007/s12035-016-9791-8)
- Simic, G. et al., 2017. Monoaminergic neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease. Progress in Neurobiology 151 , pp.101-138. (10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.04.001)
- Taylor, H. L. et al. 2014. Investigating local and long-range neuronal network dynamics by simultaneous optogenetics, reverse microdialysis and silicon probe recordings in vivo. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 235 , pp.83-91. (10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.06.031)
- Venzi, M. et al. 2016. Role for serotonin2A (5-HT2A) and 2C (5-HT2C) receptors in experimental absence seizures. Neuropharmacology 108 , pp.292-304. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.04.016)
- Venzi, M. , Di Giovanni, G. and Crunelli, V. 2015. A critical evaluation of the Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) model of absence seizures. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics 21 (2), pp.123-140. (10.1111/cns.12337)
- Yagüe, J. G. et al., 2013. Dopaminergic modulation of tonic but not phasic GABAA-receptor-mediated current in the ventrobasal thalamus of Wistar and GAERS rats. Experimental Neurology 247 , pp.1-7. (10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.03.023)
Book sections
- Beyeler, A. et al., 2021. Multiple facets of serotonergic modulation. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part B. Vol. 261, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.3-39. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.02.002)
- Bombardi, C. et al., 2021. Serotonin modulation of hippocampal functions: From anatomy to neurotherapeutics. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part B. Vol. 261, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.83-158. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.031)
- Colangeli, R. , Teskey, G. C. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. Endocannabinoid-serotonin systems interaction in health and disease. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part A. Vol. 259, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.83-134. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.003)
- De Deurwaerdère, P. , Chagraoui, A. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. Serotonin/dopamine interaction: Electrophysiological and neurochemical evidence. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part B. Vol. 261, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.161-264. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.02.001)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. 5-HT interaction with other neurotransmitters: an overview. In: 5-HT Interaction with Other Neurotransmitters: Experimental Evidence and Therapeutic Relevance - Part A. Vol. 259, Progress in Brain Research Elsevier. , pp.1-5. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.001)
- De Deurwaerdere, P. et al., 2022. In vivo study of monoamine oxidases using multisite intracerebral microdialysis. In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Monoamine Oxidase. Vol. 2558, Methods in Molecular Biology Humana, New York: Springer. , pp.183-195. (10.1007/978-1-0716-2643-6_14)
- Deidda, G. , Crunelli, V. and Di Giovanni, G. 2021. 5-HT/GABA interaction in epilepsy. In: Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 259, ELSEVIER. , pp.265-286. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.008)
- Deidda, G. et al., 2021. 5-HT/GABA interaction in neurodevelopment and plasticity. In: Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 259, ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. , pp.287-317. (10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.009)
Research
Neurophysiology Lab Research Group
Group Members:
1. Dr Massimo Pierucci, Post-doc (University of Malta) (2010-) Project title: Role of the lateral habenula in nicotine addiction and depression. Electrophysiological, neurochemical and anatomical study in rats.
2. Dr Daniel Cassar, PhD student (University of Malta) (2017-) Project title: Role of serotoninergic system in epilepsy and co-morbid cognitive impairment. Electrophysiological, neurochemical and anatomical study in rats.
3. Dr Chris Cremona, PhD student (University of Malta) (2016-) Project title: Revealing the Role of Cannabinoids as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Absence Epilepsy.
4. Mr Norbert Abela, MS student (University of Malta) (2016-). Project title: Gender Differences in Long-term Damaging effects of Binge Drinking and Cannabis Abuse: an Electrophysiological, Behavioural and Neuroanatomical Study in Rats.
5. Ms Stephanie Mari Camilleri (University of Malta) (2016-) Project title: Epigenetic effects of parental (F0) adolescent binge-drinking on adult offspring (F1) anxiety and depression traits. Psychology student.
International Grants:
R&I-2013-014, entitled ‘Closed-loop Serotonin Optogenetic Stimulation with EEG recording to Suppress Epileptic Seizures: A Therapeutic Device’ €150000 PI, GDG (AAT MT and Cardiff UK external partners). 3 years (11/2014- 10/2017).
Epilepsy Research UK grant N. P1202 entitled 'Serotonergic modulation of tonic GABA A inhibition: pathophysiological and therapeutic implications for absence seizures'. 3 years, £50,000.
Physiological Society UK. International Senior Research Grant. Dopamanine Neuronal ensemble recordings in freely moving rats. £7000.
PON (programmi operativi nazionali), Italy. "Polo Cyberbrain". Consortium (NEUROMED, IEMEST, Fondazione Nerone di Roma) €5,000,000.
Collaborators:
Prof. Vincenzo Crunelli, Cardiff University.
Prof Philippe De Deurwaerdere, Université de Bordeaux, France.
Prof Mauro Pessia, University of Malta, Malta.
Prof Giacomo Rizzolatti, University of Parma, Italy.
Biography
Giuseppe Di Giovanni received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Chieti, Italy, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, USA. Previously, he was a Senior Lecturer of Human Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Palermo, and later, an Associate Professor and then Professor at the University of Malta. Currently, he is a Professor of Human Physiology at the Medical School of the "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Italy.
His research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of monoaminergic systems using electrophysiological and neurochemical approaches. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, edited 7 books, and 8 special issues of various journals. He is the current General Secretary of IBRO and the Vice-President of the Mediterranean Neuroscience Society (MPS). He is the Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious Journal of Neuroscience Methods by Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and the Editor of the book series "The Receptors" by Springer, USA (http://www.springer.com/series/7668). Additionally, he serves as an associate editor for CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics by Wiley.
Honours and awards
On 28 May 2020 he was awarded the honour of Cavaliere (Knight) of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella.