Research Interests

My main research focuses on “The immuno- and neurotoxicological effects of xenoestrogens”.

Xenoestrogens are a group of compounds which can act as inappropriate estrogens and/or can interfere with the actions of physiological estrogens such as estradiol. Xenoestrogens are known to contaminate our environment and many studies have demonstrated that they can disrupt the endocrine system and alter reproductive functions in animals and humans. It is known that these endocrine-disrupting effects of xenoestrogens involve binding and activation of nuclear estrogen receptors. The nuclear estrogen receptor mediated responses to xenoestrogens are however very weak, i.e., xenoestrogens are usually only effective at very high concentrations. Thus, it has long been thought that environmental concentrations of xenoestrogens were relatively harmless. Recently however, this view is dramatically changed. That is, xenoestrogens are capable of activating a membrane receptor at low i.e., environmentally relevant concentrations. Using a simple model system, the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, I investigate the consequences of short- and long-term exposure to low concentrations of xenoestrogens for immune- and nervous system functions of an aquatic species. Specifically, I investigate the effects of xenoestrogens on central nervous system functioning, learning and memory formation and immune- and inflammatory systems and the signaling systems involved.

Selected publications

• Hermann PM.,Diep CQ, Nicol JJ, Wildering WC. (2005) Biphasic effects of RGD-peptides on peripheral nerve regeneration and endoneurial phagocyte activation.

• Hermann PM, Nicol JJ, Nagle GT, Bulloch AGM, Wildering WC. (2005) Epidermal growth factor dependent enhancement of axonal regeneration in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis: Role of phagocyte survival. J Comp Neurol (in press).
• Hermann PM, Schein CH, Nagle GT, Wildering WC. (2004) Lymnaea EGF and Gigantoxin I, novel invertebrate members of the epidermal growth factor family. Curr Pharm Des 10(31): 3885-3892.>
• McDougall, JJ, Baker CL, Hermann PM. (2004) Attenuation of knee joint inflammation by peripherally administered endomorphin-1. J Mol Neurosci 22(1-2): 125-138.
• Hermann PM, Logan CC. (2003) Electroporation of proviral RCAS DNA alters gene expression in the embryonic chick hindbrain. Biotechniques 35(5): 942-949.
• Wildering WC, Hermann PM, Bulloch AGM. (2002) Rapid neuromodulatory actions of integrin ligands. J. Neurosci. 22(7): 2419-2426.
• Wildering WC,* Hermann PM,* Bulloch AGM. (2001) Lymnaea epidermal growth factor promotes axonal regeneration. J Neurosci 21(23): 9345-9354. *authors contributed equally to this paper
• Hermann PM, van Kesteren RE, Wildering WC, Painter SD, Reno J, Smit JS, Kumar SB, Geraerts WPM, Ericsson LH, Smit AB, Bulloch AGM, Nagle GT. (2000) Neurotrophic actions of a novel molluscan epidermal growth factor. J Neurosci 20(17): 6355-6364.
• Hermann PM, Wildering WC, Bulloch AGM. (2000) Functional recovery of respiratory behavior during axonal regeneration in snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) is experience dependent. Behav Neurosci 114(2): 410-423.
• Hermann PM, Bulloch AGM. (1998) Pronase modifies synaptic transmission and activity of identified Lymnaea neurons. Invert Neurosci 3: 295-304.
• Hermann PM, Bulloch AGM. (1998) Developmental plasticity of respiratory behavior in Lymnaea. Behav Neurosci 112(3): 656-667.
• Tensen CP, Cox KJ.A, Smit AB, van der Schors RC, Meyerhof W, Richter D, Hermann PM, van Minnen J, Geraerts WPM, Vreugdenhil E, Knol JC, Burke JF, van Heerikhuizen H. (1998) The Lymnaea cardioexcitatory peptide (LyCEP) receptor: a G-protein-coupled receptor for a novel member of the RFamide neuropeptide family. J Neurosci 18(23): 9812-9821.
• Wildering WC, Hermann PM, Bulloch AGM. (1998) Neurite outgrowth, RGD-dependent, and RGD-independent adhesion of identified molluscan motoneurons on selected substrates. J Neurobiol 35(1): 37-52.
• Hermann PM, De Lange RPJ, Pieneman AW, Ter Maat A, Jansen RF. (1997) The role of neuropeptides encoded on the CDCH-I gene in the organization of egg laying behavior in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. J Neurophysiol 78: 2859-2869.
• Hermann PM, Lukowiak K, Wildering WC, Bulloch AGM. (1997) Pronase acutely modifies HVA Ca2+ current and integrative properties of Lymnaea neurons. Eur J Neurosci 9(12): 2624-2633.
• Fainzilber M, Smit AB, Syed NI, Wildering WC, Hermann PM, van der Schors RC, Jiménez C, Li KW, van Minnen J, Bulloch AGM, Ibáñez CF, Geraerts WPM. (1996) CRNF, a molluscan neurotrophic factor that interacts with the p75 neurotrophin receptor. Science 274: 1540-1543.
• Hermann PM, Ter Maat A, Jansen RF. (1994) The neural control of egg laying behaviour in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis: motor control of shell turning. J exp Biol 197: 79-99.
• Jansen RF, Hermann PM, Pieneman AW, Ter Maat A. (1994) Modulation of the electrical activity of motorneurons by neuropeptides encoded on the CDCH-gene of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Neth J o f Zool 44 (3-4): 200-211.