Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology
Researcher, Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Fernand-Seguin Research Centre
Owing to his expertise in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology, Guillaume Lucas was recruited under the forensic psychiatry axis to develop research on the neurobiological bases of impulsivity. Guillaume Lucas is an expert in serotoninergic (5-HT) and dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems. The 5-HT system plays a major role in controlling impulsivity and aggressiveness. The D4 dopaminergic receptor system seems strongly implicated in the manifestation of ADHD-type behaviour, as well as in thrill and/or novelty seeking, both in human subjects studied and from the point of view of animal models. Moreover, it is now a well-established fact that the meso-cortico-limbic dopaminergic system is strongly implicated in drug addiction behaviours. The aim of integrating basic neuroscientific research under the forensic psychiatry axis is to allow a genuine integrated multidisciplinary approach in the study of violent behaviour among mentally disordered individuals; this integration is facilitated specifically by the study of impulsivity.
Neurophysiology, serotonin, dopamine, D4 dopaminergic receptors, 5-HT4 receptors, electrophysiology in vivo, intracerebral microdialysis in vivo
Lucas, G. (2009). Serotonin Receptors, Type 4: A New Hope? Current Drug Targets, Nov 1. Epub ahead of print. Pubmed
Lucas G. (2008). Fast-acting antidepressants: are we nearly there? Expert Rev. Neurotherapeutics 8: 1-3.
Lucas G., Rymar V., Sadikot A.F. and Debonnel G. (2008). Further evidence for an antidepressant potential of the selective σ1 agonist SA 4503: electrophysiological, morphological and behavioral studies. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 11: 485-495.
Lucas G., Rymar V., Du J., Mnie-Filali O., Bisgaard C., Manta S., Lambas-Senas L, Wiborg O., Haddjeri N., Pineyro G., Sadikot A.F. and Debonnel G. (2007) Serotonin4 (5-HT4) receptor agonists are putative antidepressants with a rapid onset of action. Neuron, 55: 712-725.
Lucas G., Heurteaux C., Guy N., El Yacoubi M., Thummler S., Peng X.D., Noble F., Blondeau N., Widmann C., Gobbi G., Costentin J., Debonnel G. and Lazdunski M. (2006). Deletion of TREK-1, a background potassium channel, results in a depression-resistant phenotype. Nature Neuroscience, 9: 1134-1141.
Conductier G., Dusticier N., Lucas G., Côté F., Debonnel G., Daszuta A., Dumuis A., Nieoullon A., Hen R., Bockaert J. and Compan V. (2006). Adapatative changes in serotonin neurons of the raphe nuclei in 5-HT4 receptor knock-out mouse. Eur. J. Neurosci., 24: 1053-1062.
Lucas G., Compan V., Charnay Y., Neve R., Nestler E, Bockaert J., Barrot M., Debonnel G. (2005). Frontocortical 5-HT4 receptors exert positive feedback on serotonergic activity: viral transfections, subacute and chronic treatments with 5-HT4 agonists. Biological Psychiatry, 57: 918-925.
Haddjeri N., Faure C., Lucas G., Mnie-Filali O., Chouvet G., Astier B., Renaud B., Blier P. and Debonnel G. (2004). In vivo modulation of central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A receptor-mediated responses by the cholinergic system. Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol., 12: 1-9.
Lucas G., and Debonnel G. (2002). 5-HT4 receptors exert a frequency-related facilitatory control on dorsal raphé 5-HT neuron activity. Eur. J. Neurosci., 2002, 16: 817-822.