58 research outputs found
Galanin stimulates steroidogenesis in rat Leydig cells
No full textThe present study was designed to evaluate whether galanin could play a role in the regulation of testicular steroidogenesis. To this purpose, using purified rat Leydig cells, we examined the effects of galanin on basal and hCG- or LHRH-induced testosterone production and the interference of a specific galanin receptor antagonist, galantide, on galanin activity. Moreover, since it has been shown that galanin-induced stimulation of LHRH secretion appears to involve the release of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) as intracellular mediator, we evaluated also the effect of galanin on Leydig cells PGE(2) output and the interference of indomethacin, a cycloxygenase blocker, on its activity. Furthermore, the effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lipoxygenase inhibitor, was also examined. Data obtained indicate that galanin amplified testosterone response to hCG or LHRH whilst galantide prevented its potentiating activity. Moreover, galanin stimulated PGE(2) output though this fatty acid is not involved in galanin activity on Leydig cells as indomethacin failed to affect its amplification of testosterone production. The possible involvement of leukotrienes should also be excluded as NDGA did not modify galanin action. In summary, the present study indicates that galanin potentiates acute gonadotropin or LHRH steroidogenic action on Leydig cells and that this activity is specific and receptor-mediated as it is prevented by a specific receptor antagonist
Stimulatory action of endothelin-1 on rat Leydig cells: involvement of endothelin-A subtype receptor and phospholipase A2-arachidonatemetabolism system
No full textInhibition of botulinum neurotoxins interchain disulfide bond reduction prevents the peripheral neuroparalysis of botulism
No full textVirological and clinical rebounds of COVID-19 soon after nirmatrelvir/ritonavir discontinuation
No full textL'endotelina come fattore paracrino testicolare: suo ruolo nella regolazione della steroidogenesi
No full textDottorato di ricerca in scienze andrologiche. 7. ciclo. A.a. 1994-95. Coordinatore E. ZiparoConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal
Multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis as a tool for molecular epidemiology of botulism: The Italian experience
No full textClostridium botulinum is the bacterial agent of botulism, a rare but severe neuro-paralytic disease. Because of its high impact, in Italy botulism is monitored by an ad hoc surveillance system. The National Reference Centre for Botulism, as part of this system, collects and analyzes all demographic, epidemiologic, microbiological, and molecular data recovered during cases and/or outbreaks occurred in Italy. A panel of 312 C. botulinum strains belonging to group I were submitted to MLVA sub-typing. Strains, isolated from clinical specimens, food and environmental samples collected during the surveillance activities, were representative of all forms of botulism from all Italian regions. Through clustering analysis isolates were grouped into 12 main clusters. No regional or temporal clustering was detected, demonstrating the high heterogeneity of strains circulating in Italy. This study confirmed that MLVA is capable of sub-typing C. botulinum strains. Moreover, MLVA is effective at tracing and tracking the source of contamination and is helpful for the surveillance system in terms of planning and upgrading of procedures, activities and data collection forms
Biofilm formation, pigment production and motility in Pseudomonas spp. isolated from the dairy industry
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigate the ability of Pseudomonas spp. strains isolated from milk, dairy products and dairy plants, to produce blue pigment in situ, to form biofilm onto polystyrene surfaces and to perform different types of motility. Molecular identification revealed that, out of 72 Pseudomonas spp. isolates, P. fluorescens was the most common species (50 isolates) followed by P. putida (9), P. koreensis (4), P. brenneri (4), P. aeruginosa (2), P. granadensis (2) and P. veronii (1). The evaluation of blue colour production showed that the pigment was produced at 10 °C but not at 30 °C; in addition this character was strain- and species-dependent, with only 16 P. fluorescens strains showing blue pigment production. Most of the studied strains produced biofilm although with some differences related to the strains and the incubation temperatures. Within the most abundant isolated species (P. fluorescens), about 46%, 34% and 26% of the strains were able to swim, swarm and twitch, respectively. The observed relationship between biofilm formation and blue pigment production in P. fluorescens strains was statistically significant. Since these characteristics may contribute to the persistence of microorganisms in food processing environments and therefore to the contamination of food products, our results may help to focus on the control of the strains involved in the blue discolouration of dairy products
Thioredoxin and Its Reductase Are Present on Synaptic Vesicles, and Their Inhibition Prevents the Paralysis Induced by Botulinum Neurotoxins
No full textBotulinum neurotoxins consist of a metalloprotease linked via a conserved interchain disulfide bond to a heavy chain responsible for neurospecific binding and translocation of the enzymatic domain in the nerve terminal cytosol. The metalloprotease activity is enabled upon disulfide reduction and causes neuroparalysis by cleaving the SNARE proteins. Here, we show that the thioredoxin reductase-thioredoxin protein disulfide-reducing system is present on synaptic vesicles and that it is functional and responsible for the reduction of the interchain disulfide of botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, C, and E. Specific inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase or thioredoxin prevent intoxication of cultured neurons in a dose-dependent manner and are also very effective inhibitors of the paralysis of the neuromuscular junction. We found that this group of inhibitors of botulinum neurotoxins is very effective in vivo. Most of them are nontoxic and are good candidates as preventive and therapeutic drugs for human botulism
Easy to use analytical method for detection of SARS-CoV-2 and relative disposable and miniaturized kit
No full textThe present invention concerns an easy to use
analytical method for detection of SARS-CoV-2 and
relative disposable and miniaturized kit. In
particular, the present invention concerns an easy to
use method for the in vitro detection of SARS-CoV-2 in
a liquid sample, such as saliva, and relative kit
- …
