Rochellys Diaz Heijtz

About me
Publications
CV
Public outreach and news

About me

Dr. Diaz Heijtz is an Associate Professor and group leader in the Department
of Neuroscience.

Articles

Article: BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, AND IMMUNITY. 2024;122:547-554
Multispecies probiotic intake during pregnancy modulates neurodevelopmental trajectories of offspring: Aiming towards precision microbial intervention.
Siegler Lathrop T; Perego S; Bastiaanssen TFS; van Hemert S; Chronakis IS; Diaz Heijtz R
Article: BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, AND IMMUNITY. 2024;121:43-55
Bacterial peptidoglycan signalling in microglia: Activation by MDP via the NF-κB/MAPK pathway
Spielbauer J; Glotfelty EJ; Sarlus H; Harris RA; Heijtz RD; Karlsson TE
Article: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION. 2024;120(1):240-256
Food, nutrition, and autism: from soil to fork.
Maitin-Shepard M; O'Tierney-Ginn P; Kraneveld AD; Lyall K; Fallin D; Arora M; Fasano A; Mueller NT; Wang X; Caulfield LE; Dickerson AS; Diaz Heijtz R; Tarui T; Blumberg JB; Holingue C; Schmidt RJ; Garssen J; Almendinger K; Lin P-ID; Mozaffarian D
Article: PARKINSON'S DISEASE. 2023;2023:1-7
Sex Differences in the Allele Distribution of PGLYRP2 Variant rs892145 in Parkinson's Disease
Ran C; Wirdefeldt K; Sydow O; Svenningsson P; Diaz Heijtz R
Article: CELLS. 2023;12(17):2153
Cognitive Alterations in Old Mice Are Associated with Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Induced Toll-like Receptor 2 and 4 Signaling in Different Brain Regions
Brandt A; Kromm F; Hernandez-Arriaga A; Sanchez IM; Bozkir HO; Staltner R; Baumann A; Camarinha-Silva A; Heijtz RD; Bergheim I
Article: NEUROPHARMACOLOGY. 2023;234:109562
Characterizing the metabolomic signature of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in twins
Swann JR; Heijtz RD; Mayneris-Perxachs J; Arora A; Isaksson J; Bolte S; Tammimies K
Article: TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY. 2023;13(1):257
Early-life differences in the gut microbiota composition and functionality of infants at elevated likelihood of developing autism spectrum disorder
Zuffa S; Schimmel P; Gonzalez-Santana A; Belzer C; Knol J; Bolte S; Falck-Ytter T; Forssberg H; Swann J; Heijtz RD
Article: NEUROPHARMACOLOGY. 2023;229:109479
Perturbation of maternal gut microbiota in mice during a critical perinatal window influences early neurobehavioral outcomes in offspring
Morel C; Sanchez IM; Cherifi Y; Chartrel N; Heijtz RD
Article: METABOLITES. 2020;10(5):E172-172
Developmental Signatures of Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in the Mouse Brain
Swann JR; Spitzer SO; Diaz Heijtz R
Article: MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 2019;56(10):6883-6900
Can Neonatal Systemic Inflammation and Hypoxia Yield a Cerebral Palsy-Like Phenotype in Periadolescent Mice?
Fragopoulou AF; Qian Y; Heijtz RD; Forssberg H
Article: CURRENT OPINION IN PHARMACOLOGY. 2019;48:107-113
Bacterial peptidoglycans as novel signaling molecules from microbiota to brain
Tosoni G; Conti M; Heijtz RD
Article: BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, AND IMMUNITY. 2018;69:273-282
Toll-like receptor-4 regulates anxiety-like behavior and DARPP-32 phosphorylation
Femenia T; Qian Y; Arentsen T; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
Article: EBIOMEDICINE. 2018;28:162-167
Genetic Variation in the Dopamine System Influences Intervention Outcome in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Heijtz RD; Almeida R; Eliasson AC; Forssberg H
Article: BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, AND IMMUNITY. 2018;67:345-354
Sex-dependent alterations in motor and anxiety-like behavior of aged bacterial peptidoglycan sensing molecule 2 knockout mice
Arentsen T; Khalid R; Qian Y; Heijtz RD
Article: JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS. 2017;47(8):2621-2627
Brief Report: Association Between Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gastrointestinal Problems and Perinatal Risk Factors Within Sibling Pairs
Isaksson J; Pettersson E; Kostrzewa E; Heijtz RD; Bolte S
Article: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2017;22(2):257-266
The bacterial peptidoglycan-sensing molecule Pglyrp2 modulates brain development and behavior
Arentsen T; Qian Y; Gkotzis S; Femenia T; Wang T; Udekwu K; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2016;113(52):E8472-E8481
Alterations in the neuropeptide galanin system in major depressive disorder involve levels of transcripts, methylation, and peptide
Barde S; Ruegg J; Prud'homme J; Ekstrom TJ; Palkovits M; Turecki G; Bagdy G; Ihnatko R; Theodorsson E; Juhasz G; Diaz-Heijtz R; Mechawar N; Hokfelt TGM
Article: DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY. 2015;57:10-14
Translational studies exploring neuroplasticity associated with motor skill learning and the regulatory role of the dopamine system
Diaz Heijtz R; Forssberg H
Article: MICROBIAL ECOLOGY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE. 2015;26:29719
Host microbiota modulates development of social preference in mice.
Arentsen T; Raith H; Qian Y; Forssberg H; Diaz Heijtz R
Article: PLOS ONE. 2015;10(10):e0140974
Motor Skill Learning Is Associated with Phase-Dependent Modifications in the Striatal cAMP/PKA/DARPP-32 Signaling Pathway in Rodents
Qian Y; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
Article: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS. 2013;163(2):441-446
Cognitive Outcome in Adolescents and Young Adults after Repeat Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids
Stalnacke J; Heijtz RD; Norberg H; Norman M; Smedler A-C; Forssberg H
Article: GENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR. 2013;12(6):604-614
Genetic variation in dopamine-related gene expression influences motor skill learning in mice
Qian Y; Chen M; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2013;110(6):E536-E545
Distinct features of neurotransmitter systems in the human brain with focus on the galanin system in locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe
Le Maitre E; Barde SS; Palkovits M; Diaz-Heijtz R; Hokfelt TGM
Article: PLOS ONE. 2012;7(4):e35642
The Dopamine D2 Receptor Gene in Lamprey, Its Expression in the Striatum and Cellular Effects of D2 Receptor Activation
Robertson B; Huerta-Ocampo I; Ericsson J; Stephenson-Jones M; Perez-Fernandez J; Bolam JP; Diaz-Heijtz R; Grillner S
Article: ACTA PAEDIATRICA, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS. 2011;100(3):364-369
Antenatal corticosteroids for preterm birth: dose-dependent reduction in birthweight, length and head circumference
Norberg H; Stalnacke J; Heijtz RD; Smedler A-C; Nyman M; Forssberg H; Norman M
Article: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2011;108(7):3047-3052
Normal gut microbiota modulates brain development and behavior
Heijtza RD; Wang S; Anuar F; Qian Y; Bjorkholm B; Samuelsson A; Hibberd ML; Forssberg H; Pettersson S
Article: BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS. 2010;6:51
Deficits in fine motor skills in a genetic animal model of ADHD
Qian Y; Lei G; Castellanos FX; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
Article: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. 2010;67(11):1106-1109
Primate Early Life Stress Leads to Long-Term Mild Hippocampal Decreases in Corticosteroid Receptor Expression
Arabadzisz D; Diaz-Heijtz R; Knuesel I; Weber E; Pilloud S; Dettling AC; Feldon J; Law AJ; Harrison PJ; Pryce CR
Article: BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS. 2010;6:18
Effects of antenatal dexamethasone treatment on glucocorticoid receptor and calcyon gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of neonatal and adult common marmoset monkeys
Heijtz RD; Fuchs E; Feldon J; Pryce CR; Forssberg H
Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2009;12(2):243-255
Effects of repeated treatment of phencyclidine on cognition and gene expression in C57BL/6 mice
Beraki S; Diaz-Heijtz R; Tai F; Ogren SO
Article: ENDOCRINOLOGY. 2008;149(12):6343-6355
Effects of Prenatal Dexamethasone Treatment on Physical Growth, Pituitary-Adrenal Hormones, and Performance of Motor, Motivational, and Cognitive Tasks in Juvenile and Adolescent Common Marmoset Monkeys
Hauser J; Knapman A; Zuercher NR; Pilloud S; Maier C; Diaz-Heijtz R; Forssberg H; Dettling A; Feldon J; Pryce CR
Article: PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR. 2007;92(1-2):155-160
Motor inhibitory role of dopamine D1 receptors: Implications for ADHD
Heijtz RD; Kolb B; Forssberg H
Article: BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS. 2007;3:33
Calcyon mRNA expression in the frontal-striatal circuitry and its relationship to vesicular processes and ADHD
Heijtz RD; Alexeyenko A; Castellanos FX
Journal article: BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS. 2006;2:18
Differential effects of a selective dopamine D1-like receptor agonist on motor activity and c-fos expression in the frontal-striatal circuitry of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats.
Diaz Heijtz R; Castellanos FX
Article: PEDIATRIC RESEARCH. 2005;58(4):779-783
Locomotor effects of a D1R agonist are DARPP-32 dependent in adult but not weanling mice
Scott L; Forssberg H; Aperia A; Diaz-Heijtz R
Article: BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS. 2004;325(4):1223-1235
Selective brain responses to acute and chronic low-dose X-ray irradiation in males and females.
Silasi G; Diaz-Heijtz R; Besplug J; Rodriguez-Juarez R; Titov V; Kolb B; Kovalchuk O
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. 2004;19(4):945-956
Alteration of dopamine D1 receptor-mediated motor inhibition and stimulation during development in rats is associated with distinct patterns of c-fos mRNA expression in the frontal-striatal circuitry
Heijtz RD; Scott L; Forssberg H
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. 2003;18(12):3394-3399
Can a therapeutic dose of amphetamine during pre-adolescence modify the pattern of synaptic organization in the brain?
Heijtz RD; Kolb B; Forssberg H
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 2002;445(1-2):97-104
Sex differences in the motor inhibitory and stimulatory role of dopamine D1 receptors in rats
Heijtz RD; Beraki S; Scott L; Aperia A; Forssberg H
Article: JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY. 2002;446(1):37-45
Calcyon in the rat brain: Cloning of cDNA and expression of mRNA
Zelenin S; Aperia A; Heijtz RD
Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 2000;392(1-2):35-39
Ontogeny of the motor inhibitory role of dopamine D₃ receptor subtype in rats
Heijtz RD; Ögren SO; Fuxe K
Article: JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. 1998;18(7):2570-2580
Distinct ontogeny of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types I and II mRNAs in the fetal rat brain suggest a complex control of glucocorticoid actions.
Diaz R; Brown RW; Seckl JR
Article: NEUROSCIENCE. 1997;81(1):129-140
Prenatal corticosterone treatment induces long-term changes in spontaneous and apomorphine-mediated motor activity in male and female rats
Diaz R; Fuxe K; Ogren SO
Article: NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS. 1997;227(2):119-122
Codistribution of the dopamine D-3 receptor and glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs during striatal prenatal development in the rat
Diaz R; Sokoloff P; Fuxe K
Article: NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS. 1996;213(3):169-172
Ibotenic acid in the medial septum increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA levels in the dorsal rat hippocampal formation
Mahy N; Diaz R; Andres N; Fuxe K
Article: CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 1996;16(2):239-258
On the role of glucocorticoid receptors in brain plasticity
Fuxe K; Diaz R; Cintra A; Bhatnagar M; Tinner B; Gustafsson JA; Ogren SO; Agnati LF
Article: ENDOCRINOLOGY. 1996;137(2):794-797
The ontogeny of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and mineralocorticoid receptor gene expression reveal intricate control of glucocorticoid action in development.
Brown RW; Diaz R; Robson AC; Kotelevtsev YV; Mullins JJ; Kaufman MH; Seckl JR
Article: DEVELOPMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH. 1995;86(1-2):227-232
The hormone-sensitive early postnatal periods for sexual differentiation of feminine behavior and luteinizing hormone secretion in male and female rats.
Diaz DR; Fleming DE; Rhees RW
Article: NEUROSCIENCE. 1995;66(2):467-473
PRENATAL CORTICOSTERONE INCREASES SPONTANEOUS AND D-AMPHETAMINE INDUCED LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVITY AND BRAIN DOPAMINE METABOLISM IN PREPUBERTAL MALE AND FEMALE RATS
DIAZ R; OGREN SO; BLUM M; FUXE K
Article: NEUROREPORT. 1995;6(2):375-378
PERINATAL ASPHYXIA INCREASES BFGF MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS AND DA CELL BODY NUMBER IN THE MESENCEPHALON OF RATS
ANDERSSON K; BLUM M; CHEN Y; ENEROTH P; GROSS J; HERRERAMARSCHITZ M; BJELKE B; BOLME P; DIAZ R; JAMISON L; LOIDL F; UNGETHUM U; ASTROM G; OGREN SO
Journal article: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY. 1990;69(2):686-693
Effects of exercise on insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
Arogyasami J; Conlee RK; Booth CL; Diaz R; Gregory T; Sephton S; Wilson GI; Winder WW
Show more

All other publications

Editorial comment: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2024;121(5):e2320425121
Gut microbiota: A key susceptibility factor in social anxiety disorder.
Diaz Heijtz R
Editorial comment: BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, AND IMMUNITY. 2023;114:78-79
Early-life sensitive periods for antibiotic-induced shifts in neuro-immune developmental trajectories and vulnerability to brain disorders
Heijtz RD; Keane L; Koren O
Preprint: BIORXIV. 2023
C-section and systemic inflammation synergize to disrupt the neonatal gut microbiota and brain development in a model of prematurity
Morin C; Faure F; Guenoun D; Sautet I; Diao S; Faivre V; Hua J; Schwendimann L; Mokhtari A; Martin R; Chadi S; Demené C; Delahaye-Duriez A; Diaz-Heijtz R; Fleiss B; Matrot B; Auger S; Tanter M; Van Steenwinckel J; Gressens P; Bokobza C
Editorial comment: NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY. 2023;23(4):204
Linking the maternal milk microbiota and infant respiratory infections
Keane L; Heijtz RD
Editorial comment: NATURE MEDICINE. 2022;28(3):448-450
Targeting microbial metabolites to treat autism
Heijtz RD; Gressens P; Swann JR
Editorial comment: NATURE AGING. 2021;1(8):625-627
Young microbiota rejuvenates the aging brain
Heijtz RD; Gonzalez-Santana A; Laman JDD
Review: TRENDS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE. 2020;26(8):729-743
Bacterial Peptidoglycans from Microbiota in Neurodevelopment and Behavior.
Gonzalez-Santana A; Diaz Heijtz R
Editorial comment: CURRENT OPINION IN PHARMACOLOGY. 2019;48:x-xii
Editorial overview: CNS diseases and the microbiome
Heijtz RD; Swann J
Corrigendum: MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY. 2019;56(10):6901
Can Neonatal Systemic Inflammation and Hypoxia Yield a Cerebral Palsy-Like Phenotype in Periadolescent Mice? (vol 56, pg 6883, 2019)
Fragopoulou AF; Qian Y; Heijtz RD; Forssberg H
Editorial comment: GASTROENTEROLOGY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA. 2019;48(3):xi-xii
Preface.
Heijtz RD
Review: FRONTIERS IN NEURAL CIRCUITS. 2018;12:106
Neuropeptide and Small Transmitter Coexistence: Fundamental Studies and Relevance to Mental Illness
Hokfelt T; Barde S; Xu Z-QD; Kuteeva E; Ruegg J; Le Maitre E; Risling M; Kehr J; Ihnatko R; Theodorsson E; Palkovits M; Deakin W; Bagdy G; Juhasz G; Prud'homme HJ; Mechawar N; Diaz-Heijtz R; Ogren SO
Editorial comment: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY. 2017;22(2):161
Pglyrp2 expression in the developing hippocampus
Arentsen T; Qian Y; Gkotzis S; Femenia T; Wang T; Udekwu K; Forssberg H; Heijtz RD
Review: SEMINARS IN FETAL AND NEONATAL MEDICINE. 2016;21(6):410-417
Fetal, neonatal, and infant microbiome: Perturbations and subsequent effects on brain development and behavior.
Diaz Heijtz R
Conference publication: NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2016;41:S183-S184
Alterations in the Galanin System in Major Depressive Disorder: From Methylation to Peptide
Hokfelt T; Barde S; Ruegg J; Prud'homme J; Ekstrom T; Palkovits M; Bagdy G; Ihnatko R; Theodorsson E; Juhasz G; Diaz-Heijtz R; Mechawar N
Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2012;15:181
The galanin system in the human brain with focus on locus coeruleus and the dorsal raphe nucleus
Barde S; Le Maitre E; Palkovits M; Diaz-Heijtz R; Hokfelt T
Meeting abstract: EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2009;19:S18
The galanin system in the human brain and relations with serotonin and noradrenaline neurons
Le Maitre E; Heijtz RD; Palkovits M; Hokfelt T
Meeting abstract: EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2008;18:S162
Effects of repeated treatment of phencyclidine in cognition, emotional activity and gene expression in C57BL/6J mice
Beraki S; Diaz-Heijtz R; Tai F; Ogren SO
Meeting abstract: EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. 2008;18:S5
Effects of repeated treatment of phencyclidine in cognition, emotional activity and gene expression in C57BL/6J mice
Beraki S; Diaz-Heijtz R; Tai E; Ogren SO
Conference publication: JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. 2008;115(12):1724-1725
The galanin system in the human locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus
LeMaitre E; Diaz-Heijtz R; Palkovits M; Hokfelt T
Review: REVISTA DE NEUROLOGIA. 2006;42 Suppl 2:S19-S23
[Alterations in the pattern of dopaminergic markers in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder].
Díaz-Heijtz R; Mulas F; Forssberg H
Review: REVISTA DE NEUROLOGIA. 2002;34 Suppl 1:S78-S81
[Biochemical bases and research in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder].
Díaz-Heijtz R
Show more

Employments

Principal Researcher, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-2025

Degrees and Education

Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2011

About me

Articles

All other publications

Employments

Degrees and Education

News from KI

Events from KI