118 research outputs found
Eventi e cambiamenti nelle scuole veterinarie italiane durante il periodo napoleonico (1796-1814) = Events and changes in the Italian Veterinary Schools during the Napoleonic period 1796-1814
No full textPochi giorni prima della fondazione, a Torino, della prima Scuola veterinaria in Italia (1° settembre 1769), nasceva ad Ajaccio Napoleone Buonaparte (15 agosto 1769). Successivamente, furono costituite anche le Scuole veterinarie di Padova, Ferrara, Milano, Modena, Napoli. Negli anni in cui l’influsso del nascente astro napoleonico si estese progressivamente sulla penisola, dalla prima Campagna militare contro gli Austriaci (1796), alla costituzione del Regno d’Italia (1805), fino poi alla sua destituzione (1814), non fu fondata nessuna nuova scuola veterinaria nei territori controllati dai Francesi; tuttavia, nonostante alcune soppressioni (Padova, Ferrara, Modena) e ridimensionamenti funzionali (Torino), avvennero importanti cambiamenti che interessarono in particolare la Scuola di Milano. Questa venne completamente riorganizzata (ampliamento del corpo docenti, riorganizzazione degli insegnamenti, cambiamento di sede, istituzione del convitto) e divenne l’unica scuola teorico-pratica completa del neonato Regno, paragonabile alle celebri scuole francesi di Lione e di Alfort. In questo processo, durato vari anni (1804-1808), ebbero ruolo fondamentale: Eugenio Beauharnais, viceré d’Italia, Pietro Moscati, presidente del Magistrato centrale di Sanità e direttore generale dell’Istruzione pubblica, il professor Giovanni Pozzi, direttore della Scuola, il professor Louis Leroy, anatomista veterinario di origini francesi. A quest’ultimo si deve anche il primo nucleo di formazione del Museo Anatomico milanese (1808). La rifondazione della Scuola Veterinaria fu inserita in un ampio programma di opere pubbliche pensate per Milano capitale, andando nel contempo a supportare la Cavalleria militare, costantemente impegnata sui territori italiani ed europei. Va ricordato che, durante il periodo napoleonico, si formarono e si diplomarono presso la Scuola Milanese giovani veterinari che sarebbero stati futuri docenti presso altre Scuole, come Tommaso Bonaccioli (Ferrara), Vincenzo Mazza (Pisa; Napoli) e Robert Fauvet (Roma). Caso a parte fu la Scuola di Napoli, dove la rifondazione, ideata da Gioacchino Murat già nel 1812, poté completarsi soltanto dopo la caduta del suo Regno, alla fine del 1815.A few days before the foundation, in Turin, of the first Veterinary School in Italy (1 September 1769), Napoleon Buonaparte was born in Ajaccio (15 August 1769). Later, the Veterinary Schools of Padua, Ferrara, Milan, Modena, Naples were also established. In the following years, when the influence of the rising Napoleonic star progressively extended over the peninsula, from the first military campaign against the Austrians (1796), to the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy (1805), and so to its deposition (1814), no new veterinary school was founded in the territories controlled by the French; however, despite some suppressions (Padua, Ferrara, Modena) and functional downsizing (Turin), important changes were taking place, affecting in particular the School of Milan. This was completely reorganized (expansion of the teaching staff, reorganization of courses, change of seat, institution of the boarding school) and became the only complete theoretical-practical school of the newborn Kingdom, comparable to the famous French schools of Lyon and Alfort. In this process, which lasted several years (1804-1808), the following figures played a fundamental role: Eugene de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy, Pietro Moscati, President of the Central Health Magistrate and general Director of Public Education, Professor Giovanni Pozzi, Director of the School, Professor Louis Leroy, French-born veterinary anatomist. The latter was also responsible for the first nucleus of the Milan Anatomical Museum (1808). The re-founding of the Veterinary School was part of a wide-raging program of public works, designed for Milan as the capital city; in the same time it supported the Military Cavalry, constantly engaged in the Italian and European territories. It should be noticed that, during the Napoleonic period, some young veteri narians were trained and graduated from the Milan School who were to become future teachers at other schools, such as Tommaso Bonaccioli (Ferrara), Vincenzo Mazza (Pisa; Naples) and Robert Fauvet (Rome). The School of Naples was a separate case, because its re-foundation, conceived by Joachim Murat as early as 1812, could only be completed after the fall of his Kingdom, at the end of 1815
Immunolocalization of sOP 92: a protein specifically involved in the first phase of embryonic development
No full textLarge-scale chromatin remodeling in germinal vesicle bovine oocytes: interplay with gap junction functionality and developmental competence
No full textIn mammals, oocyte acquires a series of competencies sequentially during folliculogenesis that play critical roles at fertilization and early stages of embryonic development. In mouse, chromatin in germinal vesicle (GV) undergoes dynamic changes during oocyte growth and its progressive condensation has been related to the achievement of developmental potential. Cumulus cells are essential for the acquisition of meiotic competence and play a role in chromatin remodeling during oocyte growth. This study is aimed to characterize the chromatin configuration of growing and fully grown bovine oocytes, the status of communications between oocyte and cumulus cells and oocyte developmental potential. Following nuclear staining, we identified four discrete stages of GV, characterized by an increase of chromatin condensation. GV0 stage represented 82% of growing oocytes and it was absent in fully grown oocytes. GV1, GV2, and GV3 represented, respectively, 24, 31, and 45% of fully grown oocytes. Our data indicated a moderate but significant increase in oocyte diameter between GV0 and GV3 stage. By dye coupling assay the 98% of GV0 oocytes showed fully open communications while the number of oocytes with functionally closed communications with cumulus cells was significantly higher in GV3 group than GV1 and GV2. However, GV0 oocytes were unable to progress through metaphase II while GV2 and GV3 showed the highest developmental capability. We conclude that in bovine, the progressive chromatin condensation is related to the sequential achievement of meiotic and embryonic developmental competencies during oocyte growth and differentiation. Moreover, gap-junction-mediated communications between oocyte and cumulus cells could be implicated in modulating the chromatin remodeling process
Bovine pituitary follicle stimulating hormone purified by immunoaffinity chromatography based on an anti-beta-subunit monoclonal antibody : molecular characterization and biological activity on in vitro maturation and developmental competence of bovine oocytes
No full textSmall-sized newborn dogs skeletal development: radiologic, morphometric, and histological findings obtained from spontaneously dead animals
No full textBackground: Very little is known about neonatal skeletal development in small-sized purebred dogs. In order to
improve this knowledge, 27 spontaneously dead puppies belonging to small-sized breeds were enrolled in this
study for radiologic, histological and morphometric investigations.
Results: The appearance of the limb secondary ossification centers and the onset of their formation were clearly
observed by x rays and confirmed by histological evidences. Radiographic and anatomic measurements of limb
bones length and skull length and width were positively correlated with body weight and age of the subjects and
the body weight was positively correlated with radius bone mineral density, as demonstrated by dual-energy x-rays
absorptiometry.
Conclusions: These data provided original information on the growth of newborn small-sized breed dogs, and
suggest that cadavers may be useful to study skeletal development
Bio-imaging in our kitchens: to the discovery of products of animal origin
No full textLa crescente domanda di un controllo sempre più accurato degli alimenti ha spinto la ricerca verso l’impiego di tecniche rapide, precise e non distruttive in grado di garantire la presenza sul mercato di prodotti sicuri e di elevata qualità. Per questo scopo le industrie alimentari hanno affiancato alle comuni analisi chimico-fisiche metodiche di diagnostica per immagini, come l’imaging spettrale, la risonanza magnetica (RM) e la tomografia computerizzata (TC). L’imaging viene impiegato per valutare la struttura di prodotti carnei e ittici e per monitorare i cambiamenti che avvengono durante la loro lavorazione e stagionatura, come dimostrato, per esempio, da TC e RM nella caratterizzazione di salumi tipici della tradizione italiana. Nei nostri studi, TC e RM sono state impiegate per valutare la qualità di alcuni prodotti alimentari di eccellenza di origine animale. La TC ha dimostrato, in modo rapido e non distruttivo, il grado d’infiltrazione di tessuto adiposo in tagli carnei, freschi e congelati, destinati alla produzione di bresaola, consentendo di selezionare a priori i tagli più “magri” e quindi idonei alla commercializzazione di prodotti di buona qualità e ottimizzando i tempi di lavorazione. I dati ottenuti sono stati confermati da analisi istologiche e biochimiche condotte su campioni isolati. Analisi simili, applicate al prosciutto DOP Parma e al Prosciutto Nero di Parma hanno permesso di caratterizzare i due prodotti in base alla sede e alla quantità di tessuto adiposo, definendone la qualità. La RM ha permesso di differenziare i tranci di pesce spada (Xiphias gladius) di elevata qualità da quelli di squalo mako/smeriglio (Isurus oxyrhincus) di qualità inferiore, valutando forma e posizione del muscolo di Vogt. Questo aspetto è particolarmente importante nella commercializzazione di specie ittiche di grossa mole vendute in tranci e per questo motivo difficilmente distinguibili dal consumatore che può incorrere in frodi alimentari a sua insaputa.The growing demand for real-time monitoring of food products has encouraged the use of rapid, accurate and non-destructive techniques, which are able to guarantee safe and high quality products on the market. In recent years, industries have invested in image diagnostic techniques (IDT), such as spectral and hyperspectral imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). These techniques are frequently used to evaluate the structure and microstructure of meat and fish products, and/or to monitor the changes that occur during their processing and ripening. Recently IDT have been successfully applied to the evaluation of cured meats of the Italian tradition. With our research we visualize the marbling of both fresh and frozen bovine cuts of meat intended for the production of “Bresaola” by CT in parallel with histological and biochemical analyses. CT allowed selecting in a quick nondestructive way the “leanest” cuts of meat, to be used for the production of good quality Bresaola and to optimize the processing times. Similar analyses have been applied to Parma ham and “Nero di Parma” to characterize the two dry-cured hams on the basis of the quali-quantitative levels of adipose tissue infiltrates. Finally, by IDT we identified big fishes when marketed as slices. Using MRI we demonstrated that it is possible to distinguish the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) from the mako shark (Isurus oxyrhincus) slices, by the position of Vogt muscle: this allows to reduce the sales of low quality commercial products (mako shark), instead of high quality ones (swordfish), to protect consumers and limit commercial frauds
Different stages of the estrous cycle influence cumulus-oocytes communications in canine oocytes: consequences on in vitro maturation efficiency
No full textThe domestic dog is a comparative model for studies aimed at the conservation of genetic material of rare canids. Recently, it has been shown that canine oocytes resume meiosis in vitro, although at a much lower rate than other domestic animal oocytes. This could be due either to suboptimal culture conditions or to low developmental competence of oocytes. The physiological role of communications between oocyte and follicular cells is well known to be essential for the acquisition of developmental competence in other domestic species.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effect of different stages of the estrous cycle on the presence and persistence of cumulus-oocyte communications through gap-junctions at the time of collection and during IVM as a marker of developmental competence of canine oocytes.
Ovaries were harvested from bitches in two different stages of the estrous cycle: anestrous (A) or late proestrous (LP). Ovaries were sliced to release cumulus oocyte complexes (COC). Oocytes with evenly granulated ooplasm and a dense multilayered cumulus were used for culture. The medium used for oocyte maturation was TCM 199 with 0.3% BSA and 0.5 iu FSH, 0.5 iu LH 0.5 ml-1. Oocytes were cultured for 72 h at 39oC in a humidified environment of 5% CO2 in air. After collection (0 h), at 24, 48 or 72 h of IVM, oocytes were fixed and stained with Lacmoid to evaluate the nuclear stage of maturation. At 0, 24, or 48 h of IVM oocytes were microinjected (n= 84) with a 0.3% lucifer yellow solution in order to evaluate the presence of cumulus-oocyte communications through gap-junctions.
At time 0, no cumulus-oocyte communications were open in A oocytes as opposed to 89% of t COC collected at LP stage. In LP oocytes communications remained permeable for the first 24 h of maturation (67%) while at 48 h no more fluorescence diffusion was observed. The persistence of cumulus-oocytes communications in LP oocytes was coupled by their ability to resume meiosis and reach the telophaseI/metaphase II stage at a higher rate than oocytes collected at A stage (xx% vs. 0% p<0.05).
These results indicate for the first time that during anaestrus oocyte-cumulus cells communications are absent already within the ovary, thus indicating that such oocytes are unsuitable for IVM. Open somatic-oocyte communications, found in LP oocytes, were positively correlated with developmental competence, however the low rate of MII obtained suggests that further efforts to define better culture conditions are still required
Cilostamide sustains gap junction-mediated communication and chromatin remodelling in pig oocytes
No full textIn the pig, the efficiency of in vitro embryo production procedures is still limited. It has been suggested that prematuration treatments could improve the developmental capability of oocytes. In particular, recent studies conducted in the bovine (Luciano, 2011, BOR, in press) indicate that the prolongation of a patent bidirectional crosstalk between the oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells, together with the maintenance of a proper level of cAMP during the prematuration culture, could be beneficial to oocytes that have not yet acquired full meiotic and developmental capability. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of treatment with cilostamide, an inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3), which degrades cAMP, on the functional status of gap junction-mediated communication (GJC) in pig cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC). Moreover, since chromatin configuration represents a marker of oocyte differentiation and competence, the effect of cilostamide on the process of chromatin remodeling was also evaluated during the culture period. To this aim, COC were collected from 3- to 6-mm antral follicles and cultured for up to 24 h in defined culture medium supplemented with 0.1 IU mL–1 of FSH in the presence or absence of 1 μM cilostamide. The GJC functionality was assessed by Lucifer Yellow fluorescent dye microinjection at the time of collection (0 h) and after 12, 18, or 24 h of culture. Chromatin configuration was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy after removal of cumulus cells and DNA staining with Hoechst and oocytes were classified according to Bui et al. (2004 BOR 70, 1843–1851) as SC, (with stringy chromatin within the germinal vesicle), GVI (with chromatin condensed in a rim around the nucleolus), GVII-IV (where the beginning of formation of chromatin strands is typical), ProMI (prometaphase I) and MI (metaphase I). The administration of cilostamide sustained functional coupling for up to 24 h of culture as the percentage of COC with open GJC was significantly higher when compared with the control group (62.2% vs 30%; P < 0.05) and not significantly different from the time 0 h (80%). The maintenance of the coupling during the culture period was accompanied by a delay of the meiotic resumption as only 26.3% of cilostamide-treated oocytes underwent germinal-vesicle breakdown and reached ProMI stage compared to the control group (62.1%; P < 0.05). Moreover the transition towards advanced stages of differentiation, as judged by the chromatin configuration, was slowed down in the presence of cilostamide. In conclusion, our study indicates that the maintenance of elevated cAMP levels through the inhibition of PDE3 sustains a functional bidirectional communication between the oocyte and cumulus cells and delays meiotic resumption in the pig oocyte. This could be a useful approach for the development of prematuration treatments aimed at improving the embryonic developmental potential of pig oocytes. Experiments are in progress in our laboratories to confirm this hypothesis
Using new protein sources in feed for gilthead seabream (S. aurata) broodstock: what happens to the offspring?
No full textConstant intensification and growth of aquaculture production are dependent on the development of sustainable protein sources that can replace the most used protein sources in aquafeeds: fishmeal and
soybean meal [1]. In this study, gilthead seabream (S. aurata) broodstock was given two diets where vegetable protein sources were replaced with alternative ones, such as algae, duckweed, insects, and
microbiomes (bioflocs). Two inclusion levels (V2 and V3) were compared with a group receiving a control diet (V1). The effect of the diet was evaluated on larval development during endogenous feeding, which is a high vulnerability period, due to the small size of the larvae, incomplete development, and low energy reserves [2]. After hatching, larvae were reared at 19 °C and were sampled at hatch (T0) and the
complete yolk sac absorption stage (T1). For both time points, larvae were evaluated in terms of 1) total length (TL); 2) gut development, by analyzing serial hematoxylin-eosin and AB-PAS stained sections; 3)
muscle development, by whole-mount immune-fluorescence; 4) skeletogenesis, using a double staining whole-mount technique with Alcian Blue and Alizarin for cartilage and bone tissues respectively. The fish handling procedures and sampling methods used in the trial followed the E.U directive 2010/63/EU guidelines on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. TL was similar among groups at any time point. In all groups at T0, the gut appeared undifferentiated,
consisting of an AB-PAS negative cubic cells monolayer, located dorsally to the yolk sac. At T1, in all groups, it was already possible to observe the gut folds and a PAS-positive layer. At the end of T1, the mouth was open and the yolk sac was absent. The lateral muscle was striated with 5 layers at T0 and 7 layers at T1 demonstrating a growth mechanism of hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Moreover, larvae from V1 showed a higher degree of ossification especially at the head level and at the distal portion of the notochord, at the future caudal fin position at T0, with no differences at T1. larvae development, even if further studies are necessary to assess the impact of these diets on larvae after the onset of exogenous feeding
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