A5007960492- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Congenital heart defects research
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- TGF-β signaling in diseases
- Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
University of Genoa
2011-2024
Hospital Del Mar
2017
Hospital del Mar Research Institute
2017
University of Milan
2009
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
1992
Cephalochordates, urochordates, and vertebrates evolved from a common ancestor over 520 million years ago. To improve our understanding of chordate evolution the origin vertebrates, we intensively searched for particular genes, gene families, conserved noncoding elements in sequenced genome cephalochordate Branchiostoma floridae, commonly called amphioxus or lancelets. Special attention was given to homeobox opsin genes involved neural crest development, nuclear receptor encoding components...
Abstract The cephalochordate amphioxus ( Branchiostoma sp.) is an important animal model for studying the evolution of chordate developmental mechanisms. Obtaining embryos a key step these studies. It has been shown that increase 3–4°C in water temperature triggers spawning European lanceolatum ) captivity, however, very little known about natural behavior this species field. In work, we have followed during two seasons (2004 and 2005), both field captivity. We show animals spawn...
Abstract Members of the subphylum Cephalochordata, which include genus Branchiostoma (i.e. amphioxus), represent closest living invertebrate relatives vertebrates. To date, developmental studies have been carried out on three amphioxus species (the European lanceolatum , East Asian B. belcheri and Floridian‐Caribbean floridae ). In most instances, adult animals collected from field during their ripe season allowed (or stimulated) to spawn in laboratory. any given year, dates laboratory...
Amphioxus, representing the most basal group of living chordates, is best available proxy for last invertebrate ancestor chordates. Although central nervous system (CNS) amphioxus comprises only about 20,000 neurons (as compared to billions in vertebrates), developmental genetics and neuroanatomy are strikingly vertebrate-like. In present study, we mapped distribution CNS cells producing distinctive neurochemicals. To this end, cloned genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes and/or transporters...
MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs regulating expression of protein coding genes at post-transcriptional level and controlling several biological processes. At present microRNAs have been identified in various metazoans seem also to be involved brain development, neuronal differentiation subtypes specification. An approach better understand the role animal gene is determine temporal tissue-specific patterns different model organisms. Therefore, we investigated six neural related amphioxus,...
CD38, a type II transmembrane glycoprotein predominantly expressed in blood cells, is bifunctional ectoenzyme directly involved the metabolism of cADP-ribose (cADPR). This potent Ca2+ mobilizer several types cells. The relationship between ectocellular site cADPR production and its intracellular calcium-related functions poorly understood. Cultured rat cerebellar granule cells showed both enzymic activities ADP-ribosyl cyclase hydrolase, at ratio 16 to 1 respectively, were immunostained by...
Abstract We describe Ciona intestinalis γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ergic neurons during development, studying the expression pattern of Ci‐GAD (glutamic decarboxylase: GABA synthesizing enzyme) by in situ hybridization. Moreover, we cloned two B receptor subunits (Ci‐GABA Rs), and a phylogenetic analysis (neighbor‐joining method) suggested that they clustered with their vertebrate counterparts. compared Ci‐GABA Rs patterns C. embryos larvae. At tailbud stage, was widely detected central...
Abstract Glial cells play important roles in the development and homeostasis of metazoan nervous systems. However, while their involvement function central system (CNS) vertebrates is increasingly well understood, much less known about invertebrate glia evolutionary history glial more generally. An investigation into amphioxus therefore timely, as this organism best living proxy for last common ancestor all chordates, hence provides a window role cell at transition invertebrates vertebrates....
The vasa gene is an important maternal regulator of primordial germ cell (PGC) development in both vertebrate and invertebrate models. It also expressed the mature gonads, but its role these tissues still unclear. In oviparous species, oogenesis a complex process under hormonal control: estrogens, gonadotropins, other hormones operate at different stages oogenesis, regulating meiosis, vitellogenesis, follicle maturation, egg release. aim this work determination regulative controlling oocyte...
Synapsins are neuronal phosphoproteins involved in several functions correlated with both neurotransmitter release and synaptogenesis. The comprehension of the basal role synapsin family is hampered vertebrates by existence multiple genes. Therefore, studying homologous genes chordates, devoid genome duplication, could help to achieve a better understanding complex these proteins. In this study we report cloning characterization Ciona intestinalis amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae transcripts...
The neurotransmitter 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT, serotonin) plays an important role in a wide range of non‐neural processes. Using immunofluorescence with antiserotonin antibody, 5‐HT was localized the brain and some neurons larval tail Phallusia mammillata . To test effect on development, we treated embryos two different receptor subtype antagonists. Treatment at gastrula stage 10 μ M ondansetron, antagonist 3 receptor, induced anterior truncation short tail. At , ritanserin, 2B antagonist,...