Circumnuclear regions and their barred host galaxies

In this paper we present first results from an observational study of the c onnection between the global parameters of barred galaxies and the appearan ce of structures, such as dust lanes and star-forming rings in their circum nuclear regions. We combine near-infrared imaging of the central small-scal e core structure with optical imaging of the large-scale discs of these bar red galaxies. We present more detailed studies of two of our sample galaxie s, NGC 1530 and NGC 3504, for which we relate the presence and morphology o f dust lanes (with different curvature radii) to the strength of the bar. A relation where strong bars lead to straight dust lanes and ovals or weak b ars to curved dust lanes is expected theoretically and is borne out by our preliminary imaging results.