Stefano Gotti joined the NICO in 2010 as part of the Neuroendocrinology group led by his Mentor Prof. GianCarlo Panzica and now acts as a Group leader of the lab. As an Associate Professor at the University of Torino, Stefano teaches Human Anatomy in several courses for bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is part of the doctoral teaching board of the PhD in Neuroscience.
Stefano obtained his Master’s Degree in Biological Sciences and his PhD in Neurological Sciences from the University of Torino. As a doctoral student, he studied the modification of the nitrergic system in a murine model of Down Syndrome. His early research experiences include aging and modification of neuronal circuits in avian models.
Research focus
The central focus of Stefano’s research is the study of the interactions among steroids and nervous circuits. Previous studies in our laboratory have investigated the role of early exposure to gonadal hormones in the differentiation of sexually dimorphic circuits and behaviors in birds and mammals.
The discovery of the involvement of neuroactive steroids (steroids produced within the brain) in several physiological activities implies that minimal alterations of steroid levels, or exposure to exogenous chemicals that can bind to steroids’ receptors may have long-term effects on animal and human health.
We are interested therefore in investigating the role of steroid exposure on the differentiation of brain circuits and behavior. These types of studies have high potential therapeutic perspectives.
