A5068302859- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
- Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
University of Verona
2016-2025
University of Palermo
2024
University of Lausanne
2021
University of Hertfordshire
2021
University of Chieti-Pescara
2021
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
2021
University of Cagliari
2016
National Research Council
2016
GlaxoSmithKline (Italy)
1996-2003
GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom)
2002
The current COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedent new challenges to public health and medical care delivery. To control viral transmission, social distancing measures have been implemented all over the world, interrupting access routine for many individuals with neurological diseases. Cognitive disorders are common in conditions, e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease other types of dementia, Parkinson's parkinsonian syndromes, multiple sclerosis, should be addressed by...
Regional brain activation was assessed by mapping of Fos-related protein expression in rats trained to self-administration intravenous nicotine and cocaine. Both drugs produced specific overlapping patterns the shell core nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, caudate areas, but not amygdala. Thus, reinforcing properties cocaine map on selected structures terminal fields mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, supporting idea that common substrates for these addictive exist.
α6* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are highly and selectively expressed by mesostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons. These neurons thought to mediate several behavioral effects of nicotine, including locomotion, habit learning, reinforcement. Yet the functional role nAChRs in midbrain DA is mostly unknown. The aim this study was determine composition vivo nAChR mesolimbic male rats. Immunoprecipitation immunopurification techniques coupled with cell-specific lesions showed that system...
Despite decades of research on neurobiological mechanisms psychostimulant addiction, the only effective treatment for many addicts is contingency management, a behavioral that uses alternative non-drug reward to maintain abstinence. However, when management discontinued, most relapse drug use. The brain underlying after cessation are largely unknown, and, until recently, an animal model this human condition did not exist. Here we used novel rat model, in which availability mutually exclusive...
Aims of the present investigation were: (i) to assess prevalence current smokers and relative smoking status among a large number heroin addicts attending opioid-substitution therapy prevalence; (ii) evaluate relationship between type (methadone, buprenorphine) dosage opioid substitution nicotine dependence. Three hundred five (305) under were recruited at Addiction Units. All participants completed questionnaire assessing sociodemographic information, dose therapy, history status,...
It is well established that exposure of experimental animals to nicotine results in upregulation the alpha4beta2-subtype neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The aim this study was determine effect on levels alpha7-nAChRs rat brain, for which only partial information available. Rats were infused with (3 mg/kg/day) or saline 2 weeks and their brains processed receptor autoradiography [3H]methyllycaconitine (MLA), a radioligand nanomolar affinity alpha7-nAChRs. In control rats...
Rats were trained for nicotine intravenous infusions in a self-administration paradigm. The effect of on regional brain activity was studied by mapping changes c-fos expression. Specific effects determine comparing the patterning Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-Ll) self-administering rats with that three different control groups. Controls included exposed to same manipulation as who received saline instead nicotine. In addition, two groups untrained sham-operated daily operant boxes included:...
Stem cells capable of generating neural differentiated are recognized by the expression nestin and reside in specific regions brain, namely, hippocampus, subventricular zone olfactory bulb. For other brain structures, such as leptomeninges, which contribute to correct cortex development functions, there is no evidence so far that they may contain stem/precursor cells. In this work, we show for first time nestin-positive present rat leptomeninges during up adulthood. The newly identified can...
Retrieval of consolidated memories induces a labile phase during which memory can be disrupted or updated through reconsolidation process. A central component behavioral updating using retrieval-extinction manipulation (Ret+Ext) is the synaptic removal calcium-permeable-α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor (CP-AMPARs) in lateral amygdala-a metabotropic GluR1 (mGluR1) dependent mechanism. In present study, we investigate effect Ret+Ext on expression molecular markers...
The mechanisms underlying the prolonged antidepressant effects after a single infusion of ketamine are only partially understood. Ketamine’s half-life ∼2 h cannot explain that last for 1 week, suggesting triggering long-lasting neuroplasticity. Recent human pharmacokinetics (PK) data indicate metabolite, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), persists in high submicromolar range additional 6–12 h. As rodents HNK can induce dendrite outgrowth through AMPA receptor-mediated mechanisms, this work,...
In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the generation and accessibility of electronic healthcare data, often referred to as “real-world data”. The landscape data sources significantly expanded encompass traditional databases newer such social media, wearables, mobile devices. Advances information technology, along with growth computational power evolution analytical methods relying on bioinformatic tools and/or artificial intelligence techniques, have enhanced potential...
Mitochondrial diseases (MD) are heterogeneous disorders because of impairment respiratory chain function leading to oxidative stress. We hypothesized that in MD the vascular endothelium may be affected by increased oxidative/nitrative stress causing a reduction nitric oxide availability. therefore, investigated pathobiology vasculature patients assaying presence 3-nitrotyrosine muscle biopsies followed proteomic identification proteins which undergo tyrosine nitration. then measured...
Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of premature death in developed world. Advice and assistance by physicians help smokers quit, but little attention has been paid to topic tobacco dependence curricula Italian medical schools. Consequently, few follow clinical practice guidelines for treating dependence.This study was conducted on 439 students at 4 schools 2010. Students were asked complete a 60-item questionnaire. Two scores computed: Score 1 assessed knowledge epidemiology smoking, risks...
Background and Objective: Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P), S1P receptor modulator fingolimod have been suggested to play important cardioprotective role in animal models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injuries. To deeply understand the function its mechanism vivo, we analyse apoptotic, inflammatory biomarkers, fibrosis vivo heterotrophic rat transplantation model. Methods: Heterotopic heart is performed 60 Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats (350-400 grams). The total n=60 transplant recipients are...