A5072602083- Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Signaling Pathways in Disease
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Congenital heart defects research
- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Frailty in Older Adults
- Connective tissue disorders research
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Family and Disability Support Research
- Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
University of Bologna
2015-2025
University of California, San Diego
2025
Bologna Research Area
2002
Abstract Marijuana and hashish are the illicit drugs most frequently used by human adolescents. Given continued neurodevelopment throughout adolescence, adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to certain neural consequences of heavy marijuana use. This study aimed assess whether an experimental model adolescent chronic exposure Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), induce lasting effects on learning memory. Adolescent rats have been treated with THC or its vehicle from 35 45 postnatal days...
Abstract We previously obtained evidence for reduced cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus (DG) of fetuses with Down syndrome (DS), suggesting that hippocampal hypoplasia seen adulthood may be caused by defective early neuron production. The goal this study was to establish whether DS (17–21 weeks gestation) exhibit reduction total number DG, hippocampus and parahippocampal (PHG). Volumes cellular layers were estimated Cavalieri's principle optical fractionator method, respectively. found...
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic pathology characterized by intellectual disability and brain hypotrophy. Widespread neurogenesis impairment characterizes the fetal neonatal DS brain, strongly suggesting that this defect may be major determinant of mental retardation. Our goal was to establish, in mouse model for DS, whether early pharmacotherapy improves cognitive behavior. Neonate Ts65Dn mice were treated from postnatal day (P) 3 P15 with fluoxetine, an antidepressant inhibits serotonin...
Evidence in mouse models for Down syndrome (DS) and human fetuses with DS clearly shows severe neurogenesis impairment various telencephalic regions, suggesting that this defect may underlie the cognitive abnormalities of DS. As cerebellar hypotrophy motor disturbances are part clinical features DS, goal our study was to establish whether these defects be related during development. We found (17-21 weeks gestation) cerebellum had an immature pattern, a reduced volume notably fewer cells...
Mental retardation in Down syndrome (DS) appears to be related severe neurogenesis impairment during critical phases of brain development. Recent lines evidence the cerebellum a mouse model for DS (the Ts65Dn mouse) have shown defective responsiveness Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), potent mitogen that controls cell division development, suggesting involvement Shh pathway defects DS. Based on these premises, we sought identify molecular mechanisms underlying derangement neural precursor cells (NPCs)...
Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a small, diffusible, highly reactive molecule with dichotomous regulatory role in the brain: an intra‐ and intercellular messenger under physiological conditions neurodegenerative agent pathological conditions. We have recently demonstrated that long‐lasting exposure to neuronal nitric synthase (nNOS) inhibitor down‐regulated serine/threonine kinase (Akt) survival pathway caused apoptosis cerebellar granule cell cultures. The present study further substantiates...
Intellectual impairment is a strongly disabling feature of Down's syndrome, genetic disorder high prevalence (1 in 700–1000 live births) caused by trisomy chromosome 21. Accumulating evidence shows that widespread neurogenesis major determinant abnormal brain development and, hence, intellectual disability syndrome. This defect worsened dendritic hypotrophy and connectivity alterations. Most the pharmacotherapies designed to improve cognitive performance syndrome have been attempted mouse...
Down syndrome (DS), a high-incidence genetic pathology, involves brain hypoplasia and mental retardation. Emerging evidence suggests that reduced neurogenesis may be major determinant of underdevelopment in DS. To establish whether it is possible to improve DS, Ts65Dn mice--the most widely used model for DS--and euploid mice were treated with control or lithium chow 1 month. During the last 3 days animals received one daily injection 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)--a marker proliferating...
Abstract Down syndrome DS is a genetic pathology characterized by brain hypotrophy and severe cognitive impairment. Although defective neurogenesis an important determinant of mental disability, dendritic appears to be equally factor. A previous study showed that fluoxetine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fully restores in the Ts65Dn mouse model . The goal current was establish whether fluoxetine also development. In mice aged 45 days, treated with postnatal period P 3– 15, we...
Abstract Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 (T21) is present in a significant number of children and adults around the world associated with cognitive medical challenges. Through research, T21 Research Society (T21RS), established 2014, unites worldwide community dedicated to understanding impact on biological systems improving quality life people DS across lifespan. T21RS hosts an international conference every two years support collaboration, dissemination, information sharing for this goal....
The transcription factor cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) mediates survival in many cells, including neurons. Recently, death of cerebellar granule neurons due to nitric oxide (NO) deprivation was shown be accompanied by down-regulation CREB activity (1). We now provide evidence that overproduction endogenous NO or supplementation with exogenous renders SK-N-BE human neuroblastoma cells more resistant apoptosis induced serum deprivation. Parental underwent after 24 h deprivation,...
Down syndrome (DS) is a high-incidence genetic pathology characterized by severe impairment of cognitive functions, including declarative memory. Impairment hippocampus-dependent long-term memory in DS appears to be related anatomo-functional alterations the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit formed dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells - CA3 pyramidal neurons CA1 neurons. No therapies exist improve disability individuals with DS. In previous studies we demonstrated that pharmacotherapy fluoxetine...
Abstract Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition associated with impairment in several cognitive domains. Previous evidence showed notable neurogenesis reduction the hippocampal region of DS fetuses, which may account for declarative memory that characterizes starting from early life stages. The fusiform gyrus (FG) and inferior temporal (ITG) play key role visual recognition memory, function impaired children adults DS. goal current study was to establish whether fetuses (17–21 weeks...
In all species examined, the dentate gyrus develops over an extended period that begins during gestation and continues up to adulthood. The aim of this study was investigate pattern postnatal cell production in guinea pig, a rodent whose brain development has features more closely resembling human condition than most commonly used rodents (rat mouse). Animals different (P) ages received one or multiple injections bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), number labeled cells counted after time intervals 24...
Neurogenesis impairment starting from early developmental stages is a key determinant of intellectual disability in Down syndrome (DS). Previous evidence provided causal relationship between neurogenesis and malfunctioning the mitogenic Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway. In particular, excessive levels AICD (amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain), cleavage product trisomic gene APP protein) up-regulate transcription Ptch1 (Patched1), Shh receptor that keeps pathway repressed. Since...
Down syndrome (DS) is a segmental progeroid genetic disorder associated with multi-systemic precocious aging phenotypes, which are particularly evident in the immune and nervous systems. Accordingly, people DS show an increased biological age as measured by epigenetic clocks. The Ts65Dn trisomic mouse, harbors extra-numerary copies of chromosome 21 (Hsa21)-syntenic regions, was shown to recapitulate several features DS, but no biomarkers have been applied it so far. In this pilot study, we...