Carla Lucini | Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II" (original) (raw)
Papers by Carla Lucini
European Journal of Histochemistry, 2009
The innervation pattern in the buffalo testis was determined by using histochemical and immunohis... more The innervation pattern in the buffalo testis was determined by using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Nerves were concentrated in the tunica albuginea and septula testis, and did not show an uniform distribution. The tunica albuginea at the lateral and medial sides and at the free border of the testis is most densely innervated than at the epididymal border. At the cranial pole thick nerve bundles were observed between albugineal vessels and muscle bundles. Rare parenchymal nerves were found in perivascular position between seminiferous tubules and their occurrence is confined to lobules at the cranial and caudal testicular poles. An intense NPY immunoreactivity occurred in nerve bundles and in solitary varicose fibres. Nerves were concentrated in the tunica albuginea at the lateral and medial side and at the free border of the testis, and in the lobules at the cranial and caudal testicular poles. Sub P immunoreactivity was occasionally detected in some thicker nerve bundles and solitary fibers, in the tunica albuginea and in the wall of blood vessels, showing a similar distribution but less intensity and density than NPY immunoreactivity. TH immunoreactivity stained nerve fibers in the buffalo testis with a distribution pattern similar to that obtained with general neuronal markers. The histochemical reaction for AchE was negative, so cholinergic fibers cannot be detected in the buffalo testis. The histochemical NADPHd reaction stained rare nitrergic nerve bundles and solitary fibers. The majority of NADPHd activity was confined to the vascular endothelium, and rarely to the interstitial Leydig cells, whereas the Sertoli and germ cells did not show any reaction.
The Anatomical Record, 2016
Orexin A and B peptides and the receptor OX2R were studied in sea bass and goldfish gastroenteric... more Orexin A and B peptides and the receptor OX2R were studied in sea bass and goldfish gastroenteric tract by immunoblotting combined with densitometric analysis using NIH Image J software and immunohistochemical techniques. These teleost species present a different gut organization and diverse feeding habits. Immunoblotting experiments showed one band of 16 kDa corresponding to prepro-orexin, and one band of 38 kDa corresponding to the OX2R receptor. Immunohistochemical localization of OXA and OXB was observed in the enteric nervous system throughout the gastroenteric tract of both species. OXA and OXB immunoreactive cells were found in the gastric and intestinal regions of sea bass, and were mainly found in the basal region of folds in intestinal bulb, and in the midgut and hindgut of goldfish. The distribution of OX2R was mainly detected in the mucosa of the gastroenteric tract of sea bass and goldfish. This distribution suggests an endocrine action of OXA and OXB in the gastrointestinal tract as well as involvement in the peripheral control of food intake and digestive processes in both species. This study might also serve to determine the productive factors in breeding and as a baseline for future experimental studies on the regulation of the gastroenteric functions in non-mammalian vertebrates.
Journal of Anatomy, 2019
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a member of the neurotrophin family, was initially described as neuron... more Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a member of the neurotrophin family, was initially described as neuronal survival and growth factor, but successively has emerged as an active mediator in many essential functions in the central nervous system of mammals. NGF is synthesized as a precursor pro-NGF and is cleaved intracellularly into mature NGF. However, recent evidence demonstrates proNGF is not a simple inactive precursor, but is also secreted outside the cells and can exert multiple roles. .Despite the vast literature present in mammals, studies devoted to NGF in the brain of other vertebrate models are scarce. Zebrafish is a teleost fish widely known for developmental genetic studies and is well established as model for translational neuroscience research. Genomic organization of zebrafish and mouse NGF are highly similar, and zebrafish NGF protein has been reported in a mature and two precursors forms. To add further knowledge on neurotrophic factors in vertebrate brain models, we decided to determine the NGF mRNA and protein distribution in the adult zebrafish brain and to characterize the phenotype of NGF positive cells. NGF mRNA was visualized by in situ hybridization on whole mount brains. NGF protein distribution was assessed on microtomic sections by using an antiserum against NGF, able to recognize proNGF in adult zebrafish brain as demonstrated also in previous studies. To characterize NGF positive cells, anti-NGF was employed on microtomic slides of aromatase B transgenic zebrafish (where radial glial cells appeared fluorescent) and by means of double immunolabelling against NGF/PCNA (proliferation marker) and NGF/MAP2 (neuronal marker). NGF mRNA and protein were widely distributed in the brain of adult zebrafish and their pattern of distribution of positive perikaryal was overlapping, both in males and females, with few slight differences. Specifically, the immunoreactivity to the protein was observed in fibers over the entire encephalon. MAP2 immunoreactivity was present in the majority of NGF positive cells, throughout the zebrafish brain. PCNA and aromatase B cells were not positive to NGF, but they were closely A c c e p t e d m a n u s c r i p t intermingled with NGF cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that mature neurons in the zebrafish brain express NGF mRNA and store proNGF.
European Journal of …, 2009
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a growth factor promoting the survival of s... more Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a growth factor promoting the survival of several neuronal populations in the central, peripheral and autonomous nervous system. Outside the nervous system, GDNF functions as a morphogen in kidney development and regulates spermatogonial differentiation. GDNF exerts its roles by binding to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor (GFR) α1, which forms a heterotetramic complex with rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene product, a tyrosine kinase receptor. In this study we report the presence of GDNF-, RET-and GFRα1-like immunoreactivity in the pancreas of juvenile trout. GDNF immunoreactivity was observed in the islet cells, while GFRα1-and RET-immunoreactivity was observed in the exocrine portion. These findings suggest a paracrine role of GDNF towards exocrine cells showing GDNF receptors GFRα1 and RET. The relationship could reflect physiological interactions, as previously indicated in mammalian pancreas, and/or a trophic role by endocrine cells on exocrine parenchyma, which shows a conspicuous increase during animal growth.
Brain Sciences
Nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors are evolutionary conserved molecules, and in mammals are cons... more Nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors are evolutionary conserved molecules, and in mammals are considered necessary for ensuring the survival of cholinergic neurons. The age-dependent regulation of NTRK1/NTRKA and p75/NGFR in mammalian brain results in a reduced response of the cholinergic neurons to neurotrophic factors and is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we study the age-dependent expression of NGF receptors (NTRK1/NTRKA and p75/NGFR) in the brain of the short-lived teleost fish Nothobranchius furzeri. We observed that NTRK1/NTRKA is more expressed than p75/NGFR in young and old animals, although both receptors do not show a significant age-dependent change. We then study the neuroanatomical organization of the cholinergic system, observing that cholinergic fibers project over the entire neuroaxis while cholinergic neurons appear restricted to few nuclei situated in the equivalent of mammalian subpallium, preoptic area and rostral r...
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Tissue engineering (TE) pursues the ambitious goal to heal damaged tissues. One of the most succe... more Tissue engineering (TE) pursues the ambitious goal to heal damaged tissues. One of the most successful TE approaches relies on the use of scaffolds specifically designed and fabricated to promote tissue growth. During regeneration the guidance of biological events may be essential to sustain vasculature neoformation inside the engineered scaffold. In this context, one of the most effective strategies includes the incorporation of vasculature forming cells, namely endothelial cells (EC), into engineered constructs. However, the most common EC sources currently available, intended as primary cells, are affected by several limitations that make them inappropriate to personalized medicine. Human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC), since the time of their discovery, represent an unprecedented opportunity for regenerative medicine applications. Unfortunately, human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Endothelial Cells (hiPSC-ECs) still display significant safety issues. In this work, we re...
Neural Regeneration Research
Neural Regeneration Research
Frontiers in Physiology
Nesfatin-1 (Nesf-1) is an anorexigenic peptide involved in the regulation of homeostatic feeding.... more Nesfatin-1 (Nesf-1) is an anorexigenic peptide involved in the regulation of homeostatic feeding. Nesf-1 is expressed in the central nervous system and other organs, including pancreas, where it promotes the release of insulin from β-cells. This raises the possibility that Nesf-1 dysfunction could be involved in metabolic disorders, particularly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Recently, it has been discovered that dolphins can be a natural animal model that fully replicates human T2D, due to its prolonged glucose tolerance curve and maintenance of a state of hyperglycemia similar to human T2D during fasting. This correspondence suggests that dolphins may be a suitable model for investigating physiological and pathological metabolic disorders. Here, we have characterized Nesf-1 distribution in the pancreas of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and measured plasmatic levels of Nesf-1 and glucose during fasting and post-prandial states. The Mediterranean Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (MMMTB) of the University of Padova provided us with pancreas samples, derived from four animals, and plasma samples, collected before and after the main meal. Interestingly, our results showed that Nesf-1-immunoreactive cells were distributed in Langerhans islets, co-localized with glucagon in α-cells. Similar to humans, dolphin plasma Nesf-1 concentration doesn't show a statistically significant difference when comparing fasting and post-prandial states. On the other hand, blood glucose levels were significantly higher before than after the main meal. Our data provide a comparative analysis for further studies on the involvement of Nesf-1 in mammalian metabolic disorders.
Journal of Morphology, 2016
Neurotrophins (NTs) and their specific Trk-receptors are key molecules involved in the regulation... more Neurotrophins (NTs) and their specific Trk-receptors are key molecules involved in the regulation of survival, proliferation, and differentiation of central nervous system during development and adulthood in vertebrates. In the present survey, we studied the expression and localization of neurotrophins and their Trk-receptors in the cerebellum of teleost fish Danio rerio (zebrafish). Teleostean cerebellum is composed of a valvula, body and vestibulolateral lobe. Valvula and body show the same three-layer structure as cerebellar cortex in mammals. The expression of NTs and Trk-receptors in the whole brain of zebrafish has been studied by Western blotting analysis. By immunohistochemistry, the localization of NTs has been observed mainly in Purkinje cells; TrkA and TrkB-receptors in cells and fibers of granular and molecular layers. TrkC was faintly detected. The occurrence of NTs and Trk-receptors suggests that they could have a synergistic action in the cerebellum of zebrafish. J. Morphol. 277:725-736, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroscience Letters, Jun 18, 1999
The distribution of galanin immunoreactive (Gal/IR) neurons was investigated in the gastrointesti... more The distribution of galanin immunoreactive (Gal/IR) neurons was investigated in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula. The indirect immuno¯uorescence method, image analysis and confocal analysis were applied to cryostat sections and whole mount preparations. Gal/IR nerve ®bers and cell bodies were found throughout the lizard GI tract in the myenteric plexus, circular muscle layer and mucosa. These nerve structures decreased caudally. The stomach revealed a denser reactive nerve population than elsewhere. The projections of Gal/IR neurons were detected in the myenteric plexus of lizard gut using a confocal microscope which analyzed the immunoreactive material on the proximal and distal sides of muscle myotomies. An accumulation of Gal/IR material on the oral side of the myotomies demonstrated the oral-to-anal projection of Gal containing nerve structures. Based on our results, it can be hypothesized that Gal/IR neurons of the lizard digestive tract belong to the inhibitory descending pathway, which in most vertebrates is responsible for gut peristalsis regulation.
Neuroscience Letters, Oct 1, 2009
Pietro Cacialli1,2, Livia D’angelo1, Paolo De Girolamo1, Carla Lucini1, Elisabeth Pellegrini2, Ol... more Pietro Cacialli1,2, Livia D’angelo1, Paolo De Girolamo1, Carla Lucini1, Elisabeth Pellegrini2, Olivier Kah2 , Luciana Castaldo1 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, via Veterinaria, 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy 2Team NEED, IRSET, IFR 140, Rennes, France pietro.cacialli@unina.it Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family, whose other components are nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin (NT) 3, NT 4/5 and NT 6/7. BDNF has been highly conserved molecule during the vertebrate evolution. It has been demonstrated that the DNA-deduced amino-acid sequence of the processed mature BDNF of the teleost fish Xiphophorus maculatum shows 90% identity with the mouse sequence. Also, the primary amino acid sequences of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and human BDNF are 91% identical. It is largely known that BDNF in the nervous system promotes neuronal growth, differentiation, survival and synaptogenesis. However, BDNF, ...
European journal of histochemistry : EJH, 1994
The time of appearance, morphology, and topographic distribution of somatostatin, neurotensin, bo... more The time of appearance, morphology, and topographic distribution of somatostatin, neurotensin, bombesin, gastrin/CCK and serotonin immunoreactive cells during embryonic development were studied in the duck gastrointestinal tract by immunohistochemical methods. Somatostatin immunoreactive cells first appeared in the duodenum of duck embryos at 9 days of incubation (d.i.). They progressively appeared in the other segments at 19 d.i., and at hatching they were present in all gastrointestinal segments except for the caecum. At hatching, the antrum was the richest region in somatostatin endocrine cells, and the gizzard the poorest. Neurotensin immunoreactive cells were detected at 21 d.i. in the proventriculus, antrum, duodenum, and rectum; at 23 d.i. they were present in all the other segments. Bombesin immunoreactive cells were observed in the proventriculus at 17 d.i., and in the gizzard and antrum at 23 d.i. No cells were detected in the intestinal segments. Gastrin/CCK immunoreactiv...
Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft, 2014
Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and the GFRα co-receptors play a role in the d... more Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and the GFRα co-receptors play a role in the developing enteric nervous system. The co-receptors elicit their action by binding receptor tyrosine kinase RET. This immunohistochemical study reports the presence of GDNF and its specific co-receptor GFRα1 in the cat gastrointestinal apparatus during development, from stage 9 to 22. At stage 9 and 11, immunoreactivity (IR) to GDNF was observed in the cells of mesenchyme of the anterior gut. From stage 14 to 22, GDNF IR was detected in nervous plexuses; moreover, GDNF and GFRα1 IR appeared localized in gastrointestinal endocrine cells. The presence of GDNF in the enteric nervous system and in the endocrine cells suggests an involvement of this neurotrophic factor in the gastrointestinal development. Moreover, the presence of the co-receptor GFRα1 in endocrine cells and its absence in the enteric nervous system seems to indicate a different mode of transduction of GDNF signal. GFRα2 and G...
Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft, 2014
Nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on central nervous system neurons, regulating naturally occurring ... more Nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on central nervous system neurons, regulating naturally occurring cell death, synaptic connectivity, fiber guidance and dendritic morphology. The dynamically regulated production of NGF beginning in development, extends throughout adult life and aging, exerting numerous roles through a surprising variety of neurons and glial cells. This study analyzes the localization of NGF in the brain of the teleost fish Nothobranchius furzeri, an emerging model for aging research due to its short lifespan. Immunochemical and immunohistochemical experiments were performed by employing an antibody mapping at the N-terminus of the mature chain human origin NGF. Western blot analysis revealed an intense and well defined band of 20 kDa, which corresponds to proNGF of N. furzeri. Immunohistochemistry revealed NGF immunoreactivity (IR) diffused throughout all regions of telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon and rhomboencephalon. It was detected in neurons and in glia...
European Journal of Histochemistry, 2009
The innervation pattern in the buffalo testis was determined by using histochemical and immunohis... more The innervation pattern in the buffalo testis was determined by using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Nerves were concentrated in the tunica albuginea and septula testis, and did not show an uniform distribution. The tunica albuginea at the lateral and medial sides and at the free border of the testis is most densely innervated than at the epididymal border. At the cranial pole thick nerve bundles were observed between albugineal vessels and muscle bundles. Rare parenchymal nerves were found in perivascular position between seminiferous tubules and their occurrence is confined to lobules at the cranial and caudal testicular poles. An intense NPY immunoreactivity occurred in nerve bundles and in solitary varicose fibres. Nerves were concentrated in the tunica albuginea at the lateral and medial side and at the free border of the testis, and in the lobules at the cranial and caudal testicular poles. Sub P immunoreactivity was occasionally detected in some thicker nerve bundles and solitary fibers, in the tunica albuginea and in the wall of blood vessels, showing a similar distribution but less intensity and density than NPY immunoreactivity. TH immunoreactivity stained nerve fibers in the buffalo testis with a distribution pattern similar to that obtained with general neuronal markers. The histochemical reaction for AchE was negative, so cholinergic fibers cannot be detected in the buffalo testis. The histochemical NADPHd reaction stained rare nitrergic nerve bundles and solitary fibers. The majority of NADPHd activity was confined to the vascular endothelium, and rarely to the interstitial Leydig cells, whereas the Sertoli and germ cells did not show any reaction.
The Anatomical Record, 2016
Orexin A and B peptides and the receptor OX2R were studied in sea bass and goldfish gastroenteric... more Orexin A and B peptides and the receptor OX2R were studied in sea bass and goldfish gastroenteric tract by immunoblotting combined with densitometric analysis using NIH Image J software and immunohistochemical techniques. These teleost species present a different gut organization and diverse feeding habits. Immunoblotting experiments showed one band of 16 kDa corresponding to prepro-orexin, and one band of 38 kDa corresponding to the OX2R receptor. Immunohistochemical localization of OXA and OXB was observed in the enteric nervous system throughout the gastroenteric tract of both species. OXA and OXB immunoreactive cells were found in the gastric and intestinal regions of sea bass, and were mainly found in the basal region of folds in intestinal bulb, and in the midgut and hindgut of goldfish. The distribution of OX2R was mainly detected in the mucosa of the gastroenteric tract of sea bass and goldfish. This distribution suggests an endocrine action of OXA and OXB in the gastrointestinal tract as well as involvement in the peripheral control of food intake and digestive processes in both species. This study might also serve to determine the productive factors in breeding and as a baseline for future experimental studies on the regulation of the gastroenteric functions in non-mammalian vertebrates.
Journal of Anatomy, 2019
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a member of the neurotrophin family, was initially described as neuron... more Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a member of the neurotrophin family, was initially described as neuronal survival and growth factor, but successively has emerged as an active mediator in many essential functions in the central nervous system of mammals. NGF is synthesized as a precursor pro-NGF and is cleaved intracellularly into mature NGF. However, recent evidence demonstrates proNGF is not a simple inactive precursor, but is also secreted outside the cells and can exert multiple roles. .Despite the vast literature present in mammals, studies devoted to NGF in the brain of other vertebrate models are scarce. Zebrafish is a teleost fish widely known for developmental genetic studies and is well established as model for translational neuroscience research. Genomic organization of zebrafish and mouse NGF are highly similar, and zebrafish NGF protein has been reported in a mature and two precursors forms. To add further knowledge on neurotrophic factors in vertebrate brain models, we decided to determine the NGF mRNA and protein distribution in the adult zebrafish brain and to characterize the phenotype of NGF positive cells. NGF mRNA was visualized by in situ hybridization on whole mount brains. NGF protein distribution was assessed on microtomic sections by using an antiserum against NGF, able to recognize proNGF in adult zebrafish brain as demonstrated also in previous studies. To characterize NGF positive cells, anti-NGF was employed on microtomic slides of aromatase B transgenic zebrafish (where radial glial cells appeared fluorescent) and by means of double immunolabelling against NGF/PCNA (proliferation marker) and NGF/MAP2 (neuronal marker). NGF mRNA and protein were widely distributed in the brain of adult zebrafish and their pattern of distribution of positive perikaryal was overlapping, both in males and females, with few slight differences. Specifically, the immunoreactivity to the protein was observed in fibers over the entire encephalon. MAP2 immunoreactivity was present in the majority of NGF positive cells, throughout the zebrafish brain. PCNA and aromatase B cells were not positive to NGF, but they were closely A c c e p t e d m a n u s c r i p t intermingled with NGF cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that mature neurons in the zebrafish brain express NGF mRNA and store proNGF.
European Journal of …, 2009
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a growth factor promoting the survival of s... more Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a growth factor promoting the survival of several neuronal populations in the central, peripheral and autonomous nervous system. Outside the nervous system, GDNF functions as a morphogen in kidney development and regulates spermatogonial differentiation. GDNF exerts its roles by binding to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor (GFR) α1, which forms a heterotetramic complex with rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene product, a tyrosine kinase receptor. In this study we report the presence of GDNF-, RET-and GFRα1-like immunoreactivity in the pancreas of juvenile trout. GDNF immunoreactivity was observed in the islet cells, while GFRα1-and RET-immunoreactivity was observed in the exocrine portion. These findings suggest a paracrine role of GDNF towards exocrine cells showing GDNF receptors GFRα1 and RET. The relationship could reflect physiological interactions, as previously indicated in mammalian pancreas, and/or a trophic role by endocrine cells on exocrine parenchyma, which shows a conspicuous increase during animal growth.
Brain Sciences
Nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors are evolutionary conserved molecules, and in mammals are cons... more Nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors are evolutionary conserved molecules, and in mammals are considered necessary for ensuring the survival of cholinergic neurons. The age-dependent regulation of NTRK1/NTRKA and p75/NGFR in mammalian brain results in a reduced response of the cholinergic neurons to neurotrophic factors and is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we study the age-dependent expression of NGF receptors (NTRK1/NTRKA and p75/NGFR) in the brain of the short-lived teleost fish Nothobranchius furzeri. We observed that NTRK1/NTRKA is more expressed than p75/NGFR in young and old animals, although both receptors do not show a significant age-dependent change. We then study the neuroanatomical organization of the cholinergic system, observing that cholinergic fibers project over the entire neuroaxis while cholinergic neurons appear restricted to few nuclei situated in the equivalent of mammalian subpallium, preoptic area and rostral r...
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Tissue engineering (TE) pursues the ambitious goal to heal damaged tissues. One of the most succe... more Tissue engineering (TE) pursues the ambitious goal to heal damaged tissues. One of the most successful TE approaches relies on the use of scaffolds specifically designed and fabricated to promote tissue growth. During regeneration the guidance of biological events may be essential to sustain vasculature neoformation inside the engineered scaffold. In this context, one of the most effective strategies includes the incorporation of vasculature forming cells, namely endothelial cells (EC), into engineered constructs. However, the most common EC sources currently available, intended as primary cells, are affected by several limitations that make them inappropriate to personalized medicine. Human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC), since the time of their discovery, represent an unprecedented opportunity for regenerative medicine applications. Unfortunately, human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Endothelial Cells (hiPSC-ECs) still display significant safety issues. In this work, we re...
Neural Regeneration Research
Neural Regeneration Research
Frontiers in Physiology
Nesfatin-1 (Nesf-1) is an anorexigenic peptide involved in the regulation of homeostatic feeding.... more Nesfatin-1 (Nesf-1) is an anorexigenic peptide involved in the regulation of homeostatic feeding. Nesf-1 is expressed in the central nervous system and other organs, including pancreas, where it promotes the release of insulin from β-cells. This raises the possibility that Nesf-1 dysfunction could be involved in metabolic disorders, particularly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Recently, it has been discovered that dolphins can be a natural animal model that fully replicates human T2D, due to its prolonged glucose tolerance curve and maintenance of a state of hyperglycemia similar to human T2D during fasting. This correspondence suggests that dolphins may be a suitable model for investigating physiological and pathological metabolic disorders. Here, we have characterized Nesf-1 distribution in the pancreas of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and measured plasmatic levels of Nesf-1 and glucose during fasting and post-prandial states. The Mediterranean Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (MMMTB) of the University of Padova provided us with pancreas samples, derived from four animals, and plasma samples, collected before and after the main meal. Interestingly, our results showed that Nesf-1-immunoreactive cells were distributed in Langerhans islets, co-localized with glucagon in α-cells. Similar to humans, dolphin plasma Nesf-1 concentration doesn't show a statistically significant difference when comparing fasting and post-prandial states. On the other hand, blood glucose levels were significantly higher before than after the main meal. Our data provide a comparative analysis for further studies on the involvement of Nesf-1 in mammalian metabolic disorders.
Journal of Morphology, 2016
Neurotrophins (NTs) and their specific Trk-receptors are key molecules involved in the regulation... more Neurotrophins (NTs) and their specific Trk-receptors are key molecules involved in the regulation of survival, proliferation, and differentiation of central nervous system during development and adulthood in vertebrates. In the present survey, we studied the expression and localization of neurotrophins and their Trk-receptors in the cerebellum of teleost fish Danio rerio (zebrafish). Teleostean cerebellum is composed of a valvula, body and vestibulolateral lobe. Valvula and body show the same three-layer structure as cerebellar cortex in mammals. The expression of NTs and Trk-receptors in the whole brain of zebrafish has been studied by Western blotting analysis. By immunohistochemistry, the localization of NTs has been observed mainly in Purkinje cells; TrkA and TrkB-receptors in cells and fibers of granular and molecular layers. TrkC was faintly detected. The occurrence of NTs and Trk-receptors suggests that they could have a synergistic action in the cerebellum of zebrafish. J. Morphol. 277:725-736, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroscience Letters, Jun 18, 1999
The distribution of galanin immunoreactive (Gal/IR) neurons was investigated in the gastrointesti... more The distribution of galanin immunoreactive (Gal/IR) neurons was investigated in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula. The indirect immuno¯uorescence method, image analysis and confocal analysis were applied to cryostat sections and whole mount preparations. Gal/IR nerve ®bers and cell bodies were found throughout the lizard GI tract in the myenteric plexus, circular muscle layer and mucosa. These nerve structures decreased caudally. The stomach revealed a denser reactive nerve population than elsewhere. The projections of Gal/IR neurons were detected in the myenteric plexus of lizard gut using a confocal microscope which analyzed the immunoreactive material on the proximal and distal sides of muscle myotomies. An accumulation of Gal/IR material on the oral side of the myotomies demonstrated the oral-to-anal projection of Gal containing nerve structures. Based on our results, it can be hypothesized that Gal/IR neurons of the lizard digestive tract belong to the inhibitory descending pathway, which in most vertebrates is responsible for gut peristalsis regulation.
Neuroscience Letters, Oct 1, 2009
Pietro Cacialli1,2, Livia D’angelo1, Paolo De Girolamo1, Carla Lucini1, Elisabeth Pellegrini2, Ol... more Pietro Cacialli1,2, Livia D’angelo1, Paolo De Girolamo1, Carla Lucini1, Elisabeth Pellegrini2, Olivier Kah2 , Luciana Castaldo1 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, via Veterinaria, 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy 2Team NEED, IRSET, IFR 140, Rennes, France pietro.cacialli@unina.it Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family, whose other components are nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin (NT) 3, NT 4/5 and NT 6/7. BDNF has been highly conserved molecule during the vertebrate evolution. It has been demonstrated that the DNA-deduced amino-acid sequence of the processed mature BDNF of the teleost fish Xiphophorus maculatum shows 90% identity with the mouse sequence. Also, the primary amino acid sequences of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and human BDNF are 91% identical. It is largely known that BDNF in the nervous system promotes neuronal growth, differentiation, survival and synaptogenesis. However, BDNF, ...
European journal of histochemistry : EJH, 1994
The time of appearance, morphology, and topographic distribution of somatostatin, neurotensin, bo... more The time of appearance, morphology, and topographic distribution of somatostatin, neurotensin, bombesin, gastrin/CCK and serotonin immunoreactive cells during embryonic development were studied in the duck gastrointestinal tract by immunohistochemical methods. Somatostatin immunoreactive cells first appeared in the duodenum of duck embryos at 9 days of incubation (d.i.). They progressively appeared in the other segments at 19 d.i., and at hatching they were present in all gastrointestinal segments except for the caecum. At hatching, the antrum was the richest region in somatostatin endocrine cells, and the gizzard the poorest. Neurotensin immunoreactive cells were detected at 21 d.i. in the proventriculus, antrum, duodenum, and rectum; at 23 d.i. they were present in all the other segments. Bombesin immunoreactive cells were observed in the proventriculus at 17 d.i., and in the gizzard and antrum at 23 d.i. No cells were detected in the intestinal segments. Gastrin/CCK immunoreactiv...
Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft, 2014
Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and the GFRα co-receptors play a role in the d... more Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and the GFRα co-receptors play a role in the developing enteric nervous system. The co-receptors elicit their action by binding receptor tyrosine kinase RET. This immunohistochemical study reports the presence of GDNF and its specific co-receptor GFRα1 in the cat gastrointestinal apparatus during development, from stage 9 to 22. At stage 9 and 11, immunoreactivity (IR) to GDNF was observed in the cells of mesenchyme of the anterior gut. From stage 14 to 22, GDNF IR was detected in nervous plexuses; moreover, GDNF and GFRα1 IR appeared localized in gastrointestinal endocrine cells. The presence of GDNF in the enteric nervous system and in the endocrine cells suggests an involvement of this neurotrophic factor in the gastrointestinal development. Moreover, the presence of the co-receptor GFRα1 in endocrine cells and its absence in the enteric nervous system seems to indicate a different mode of transduction of GDNF signal. GFRα2 and G...
Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft, 2014
Nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on central nervous system neurons, regulating naturally occurring ... more Nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on central nervous system neurons, regulating naturally occurring cell death, synaptic connectivity, fiber guidance and dendritic morphology. The dynamically regulated production of NGF beginning in development, extends throughout adult life and aging, exerting numerous roles through a surprising variety of neurons and glial cells. This study analyzes the localization of NGF in the brain of the teleost fish Nothobranchius furzeri, an emerging model for aging research due to its short lifespan. Immunochemical and immunohistochemical experiments were performed by employing an antibody mapping at the N-terminus of the mature chain human origin NGF. Western blot analysis revealed an intense and well defined band of 20 kDa, which corresponds to proNGF of N. furzeri. Immunohistochemistry revealed NGF immunoreactivity (IR) diffused throughout all regions of telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon and rhomboencephalon. It was detected in neurons and in glia...