Thomas Reischig

• 1995 Diploma in Biology, University of Regensburg, Germany

• 1995-1999 Research fellow at the University of Regensburg, Germany

• 1999-2003 Research fellow at the University of Marburg, Germany; Dr. rer. nat.

• 2004-2008 Research assistant at the University of Göttingen, Germany

Major Research Interests:

Thomas Reischig

1. Neurobiology of circadian rhythms in insects
Daily rhythms of behaviour and physiology of most animals is regulated by endogenous (circadian) clocks. These are constantly synchronised to the physical day by rhythmic environmental factors, e.g., the daily light and temperature cycles. In insects, circadian pacemakers are located in the visual and central parts of their brains. With anatomical, physiological, pharmacological, developmental and behavioural approaches we investigate the neurobiology of circadian pacemaker function in basal insect groups such as silverfishes and cockroaches.

2. Evolution of endogenous clocks
In most insects, the main pacemaker driving circadian behaviour is located in the optic lobes, which are brain regions specialised for processing of visual information. In the optic lobe, particular clock neurons form a distinct structure called ‘accessory medulla’. We investigate clock neurons and accessory medullae in a variety of insect and other species in order to explore the evolution of circadian and visual systems in invertebrate animals.

3. Insect brain 3D reconstruction
Brain compartments and single neurons of insects form complex three-dimensional structures, and neurons interact with each other in three-dimensional spaces. To investigate neuronal connectivities, it is of great interest to understand the spatial configurations of brain structures and neurons. With computer-aided reconstruction techniques we create 3D models of insect brains.

Address:
Inst. for Zoology and Anthropology
University of Goettingen
Berliner Str. 28
37073 Göttingen
Germany

phone: +49-551-39 7809
fax: +49-551-39 5438
e-mail:

Further Information:
Dept. Research Group

Selected Recent Publications:

Farca Luna A J, Hurtado-Zavala J I, Reischig T, Heinrich R (2009) Circadian regulation of crayfish behavior in groups of parthenogenetic marbled crayfish. Procambarus sp. J. Biol. Rhythms, in press

Reischig T, Stengl M (2004) Pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH)-immunoreactive neurons form a direct coupling pathway between the bilaterally symmetric circadian pacemakers of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. Cell Tissue Res. 318: 553–564

Homberg U, Reischig T, Stengl M (2003) Neural organization of the circadian system of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. Chronobiol. Int. 20: 577–591

Reischig T, Stengl M (2003) Ultrastructure of pigment-dispersing hormone-immunoreactive neurons in a three-dimensional model of the accessory medulla of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. Cell Tissue Res. 314: 421–435

Reischig T, Stengl M (2003) Ectopic transplantation of the accessory medulla restores circadian locomotor rhythms in arrhythmic cockroaches (Leucophaea maderae). J. Exp. Biol. 206: 1877–1886

Reischig T, Stengl M (2002) Optic lobe commissures in a three-dimensional brain model of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae: a search for the circadian coupling pathways. J. Comp. Neurol. 443: 388–400

Reischig T, Stengl M (1996) Morphology and pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH)-immunocytochemistry of the accessory medulla, the presumptive circadian pacemaker of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae: a light- and electron-microscopic study. Cell Tissue Res. 255: 305–319