A5041396193- Marine animal studies overview
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
- Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
City University of Hong Kong
2024-2025
University of Padua
2020-2024
Anencephaly is a deadly type of cephalic axial skeletal and neural disorder with multifactorial aetiology that causes the failure rostral neuropore closure, compromising formation folds, basicranium, neurocranium. In cetaceans, there only one report this fetal abnormality, dated in late 1991, male stillborn Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) diagnosed using transabdominal ultrasonography on its mother was kept under human care Ocean Park Corporation. After birth, physical...
Areas dedicated to higher brain functions such as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are thought be unique hominidae. The OFC is involved in social behavior, reward and punishment encoding emotional control. Here, we focused on putative corresponding area sheep assess its homology humans. We used classical histology five (Ovis aries) four chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) a six-layered-cortex primate, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) three human brains. Nissl's staining exhibited certain alteration...
Invasive neuronal tract-tracing is not permitted in very large or endangered animals. This especially the case marine mammals like dolphins. Diffusion-weighted imaging of fiber tracts could be an alternative if feasible even brains that have been fixed formalin for a long time. currently problem, detecting crossing fibers. We applied state-of-the-art algorithm called Constrained Spherical Deconvolution on diffusion data three bottlenose dolphins using clinical human MRI parameters and were...
Cetaceans are well known for their remarkable cognitive abilities including self-recognition, sound imitation and decision making. In other mammals, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) takes a key role in such feats. cetaceans, however, PFC could up to now not be discerned based on its usual topography. Classical vivo methods like tract tracing legally possible perform Cetacea, leaving diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) as most viable alternative. This is first investigation focussed identification of...
Cetaceans have undergone profound sensory adaptations in response to their aquatic environment during evolution. These are characterised by anatomo-functional changes the classically defined systems, shaping neuroanatomy accordingly. This review offers a concise and up-to-date overview of our current understanding associated with cetacean systems. It encompasses wide spectrum, ranging from peripheral cells responsible for detecting environmental cues, intricate structures within central...
The importance of assessing neurochemical processes in the cetacean brain as a tool for monitoring their cognitive health and to indirectly model human neurodegenerative conditions is increasingly evident, although available data are largely semiquantitative. High-resolution MRI post-mortem brains stereology allow quantitative assessments brain. In this study, we scanned two bottlenose dolphins 7-Tesla (7T) MR scanner assessed connectivity inferior colliculi ventral cochlear nuclei using...
Abstract Odontocetes primarily rely on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans as their main source of nutrition. In the digestive system, polygastric complex exhibits similarities to that closest terrestrial relatives such cows, sheep, giraffes, while entero‐colic tract shares with carnivores. The morphology, caliber, structure odontocete intestine are relatively constant, and, since there is no caecum, a distinction between small large respective subdivisions difficult. To address this issue,...
Abstract Vibrissae are tactile hairs found mainly on the rostrum of most mammals. The follicle, which is surrounded by a large venous sinus, called "follicle‐sinus complex" (FSC). This complex highly innervated somatosensitive fibers and reached visceromotor that innervate surrounding vessels. striated muscles receive somatomotor from facial nerve. bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ), frequently described member delphinid family, possesses this organ only in postnatal period. However,...
Over 50% of clinical patients affected by the systemic lupus erythematosus disease display impaired neurological cognitive functions and psychiatric disorders, a form called neuropsychiatric erythematosus. Hippocampus is one brain structures most sensitive to deficits disorders related lupus. The purpose this study was compare, layer layer, neuron morphology in mice model NZB/W F1 versus Wild Type mice. By morphometric cells identified on Nissl-stained sections, we evaluated structural...
Abstract The glycopatterns of the glycans secreted by mucosa stomach and duodenal ampulla striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba were studied histochemical (Periodic acid‐Schiff, Alcian Blue pH 2.5, High Iron Diamine) lectin‐binding (SBA, DBA, PNA, WGA, MAA‐II, SNA, ConA, UEA‐I, AAA, LTA) techniques. can be divided into four compartments: main stomach, two connecting chambers pylorus. pylorus is followed ampulla. Mucins are surface cells intramucosal glands specific for each compartment. In...
Introduction The auditory system of dolphins and whales allows them to dive in dark waters, hunt for prey well below the limit solar light absorption, communicate with their conspecific. These complex behaviors require specific sufficient functional circuitry neocortex, vicarious learning capacities. Dolphins are also precocious animals that can hold breath swim within minutes after birth. However, diving hunting likely not innate need be learned. Our hypothesis is organization cortex grows...
Diffusion-weighted Imaging (DWI) is an effective and state-of-the-art neuroimaging method that non-invasively reveals the microstructure connectivity of tissues. Recently, novel applications DWI technique in studying large brains through ex-vivo imaging enabled researchers to gain insights into complex neural architecture different species such as those Perissodactyla (e.g., horses rhinos), Artiodactyla bovids, swines, cetaceans), Carnivora felids, canids, pinnipeds). Classical in-vivo...
Introduction Crocodilians have significant ecological, conservational, and economic roles. They are also commonly raised for commercial purposes kept as zoological specimens. Although ultrasonography has been used in contexts health assessments of crocodilians, published studies on a detailed protocol ultrasonographic anatomy lacking. This study aimed to establish standardized pictorial reference the appearances coelomic organs crocodilians. Methods A total 7 crocodilians comprising 4...
Abstract The anatomical description of the hourglass dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus cruciger ) and spectacled porpoise Phocoena dioptrica remains largely unexplored, due to limited specimen availability preservation challenges. This study employed digital imaging techniques, conventional histology computed tomography provide three-dimensional visualisation structures for detailed volumetric analysis prior necropsy. We present a comprehensive gross macroscopical microscopical morphology two...
Abstract The Mediterranean monk seal ( Monachus monachus , Hermann, 1779) is an endangered species of pinniped endemic to few areas the Sea. Extensive hunting and poaching over last two centuries have rendered it a rare sight, scattered mainly in Aegean Sea western coast North Africa. In event, female calf stranded died southern Italy (Brindisi, Puglia). During due necropsy, brain was extracted fixed. present report first brain. features reported are remarkably typical true brain, with some...