1,721,122 research outputs found
Cosa muove il mondo? Sulla Motivazione
No full textIl tema della motivazione rappresenta un punto essenziale di qualsiasi riflessione psicologica. Se generalizzata, la motivazione, da concetto di natura psichica si estende immediatamente agli altri ambiti dell'esperienza umana: a partire dalla fisiologia, arriva a coinvolgere l'interpersonale, aspetti sociologici e antropologici. "Cosa muove il mondo?" costituisce in questo volume il tema intorno al quale riflettono i più illustri esponenti del panorama junghiano in Italia e non solo. Tra causalità e finalità, interconnessioni con la bellezza, simboli e direzioni verso le quali si rivolge l'energia psichica, tra concretezza e astrazione, la motivazione si rivela uno dei moti più rilevanti e determinanti del nostro essere
High frequency of OPA1 mutations causing high ADOA prevalence in south-eastern Sicily, Italy.
No full textGallus GN, Cardaioli E, Rufa A, Collura M, Da Pozzo P, Pretegiani E, Tumino M, Pavone L, Federico A. High frequency of OPA1 mutations causing high ADOA prevalence in south-eastern Sicily, Italy. Optic atrophy type 1 (OPA1) gene mutation causes autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA, MIM #165500). Prevalence of ADOA ranges from 1:50,000 in most populations to 1:12,000 in Denmark. Seventy members of nine families were analysed for the presence of OPA1 gene mutations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. We identified three OPA1 gene mutations in 48 patients with variable signs of optic atrophy. Two mutations, c.784-21_784-22insAluYb8 and c.876_878delTGT, were found in two different families. The third mutation, c.869G>A, was found in 28 patients from seven families. The haplotype analysis data suggested that the c.869G>A mutation is a founder mutation. Our main result suggests a higher ADOA prevalence in south-eastern Sicily than previously found in Denmark. This is because of not only the founder effect but also to the presence of three different mutations in the geographical area of the study. Our hypothesis is that a combination of social pressure because of blindness and migration factors is involved. In fact, in Siracusa, a provincial capital in south-eastern Sicily, St. Lucy, the patron saint of the blind was born and died
Expression and localization of mu-opioid receptor in canine oocytes
No full textEndogenous opioid peptides (EOP), through G-protein-coupled receptors, control
metabolism and many physiological and pathological conditions. Once EOP are linked to
their receptors, above all μ-opioid receptor (MOR), a block of the Ca channel occurs
(Sciorsci et al. 2000 Immunopharm. Immunotox. 22, 575–626). The disruption of Ca
homeostasis interferes with many Ca -mediated/dependent actions. Our previous studies
demonstrated the presence of MOR in human, bovine, and equine oocytes, in sperm cells of
several species (equine, canine, etc.), in mare's tube, in ovine, bovine and mouse embryos.
The presence of MOR on the male canine gamete lets us hypothesize its presence on the
female gamete, too. In this study we demonstrated the presence of MOR on canine oocytes
by immunofluorescence (IF) and western blot (WB) analysis, and we speculate on its
possible functional role. Canine ovaries were obtained from healthy bitches randomly
chosen among those arriving at our veterinary hospital for surgical ovariectomy without
considering the period of their reproductive cycle. Oocytes were collected by ovary slicing
and tested to check for the presence of MOR. For IF, oocytes were washed in 100 mM
glycine in PBS and incubated for 30 min in PBS-1% BSA. Control oocytes were incubated
with primary rabbit polyclonal antibody against the rat 3rd extracellular loop of MOR
(Chemicon, Temecula, CA, USA). All oocytes were incubated for 2 h at room temperature
with a FITC-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG-secondary antibody diluted 1:200 in Evans blue/PBS,
washed, and visualized by laser scanning confocal microscope. For the WB, crude plasma
membranes were obtained from pools of oocytes. They were lysed in Laemli buffer and
loaded on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gels.
After electrophoresis, proteins were electrotransferred (semi-dry apparatus, BioRad, Milano,
IT) to Immobilon-P membranes (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). Filters were blocked for 1 h
and blotted overnight at 4°C against the same primary antibody used for IF, diluted 1:7500
in blocking buffer. After washing, membranes were incubated with a 1:10 000 dilution of
peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibody for 2 h at room temperature.
Reactive bands were visualized by Supersignal West Pico Chemiluminescent substrate
(Pierce, Milano, IT). A negative control was performed. The IF highlighted, by clear brilliant
green, the MOR's localization on canine oocytes. The negative control did not present any
fluorescent region or spotted coloring. The WB revealed the presence of one
immunoreactive band of approximately 65 kDa, thus confirming the results obtained by IF.
No reactivity was evident when the primary antibody was adsorbed with an excess of
immunizing peptide. The presence of MOR on canine oocytes indicates its possible role in
the modulation of oocyte metabolism. These data strongly confirm previous evidence from
our research unit on the involvement of the opioidergic system during gamete development
and interaction, thus allowing us to speculate on a primary role of MOR in controlling key
events of the reproductive activity
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans: The sweet side of development turns sour in mucopolysaccharidoses
No full textHeparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are complex carbohydrate-modified proteins ubiquitously expressed on cell surfaces, extracellular matrix and basement membrane of mammalian tissues. Beside to serve as structural constituents, they regulate multiple cellular activities. A critical involvement of HSPGs in development has been established, and perturbations of HSPG-dependent pathways are associated with many human diseases. Recent evidence suggest a role of HSPGs in the pathogenesis of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) where the accumulation of undigested HS results in the loss of cellular functions, tissue damage and organ dysfunctions accounting for clinical manifestations which include central nervous system (CNS) involvement, degenerative joint disease and reduced bone growth. Current therapies are not curative but only ameliorate the disease symptoms. Here, we highlight the link between HSPG functions in the development of CNS and musculoskeletal structures and the etiology of some MPS phenotypes, suggesting that HSPGs may represent potential targets for the therapy of such incurable diseases
Embryo-maternal communication: is the mu-opioid receptor one of the possible cross talking way?
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