Michela Ferrucci
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View article: In situ stoichiometry amounts of p62 and poly-ubiquitin exceed the increase of alpha-synuclein during degeneration of catecholamine cells induced by autophagy inhibition in vitro
In situ stoichiometry amounts of p62 and poly-ubiquitin exceed the increase of alpha-synuclein during degeneration of catecholamine cells induced by autophagy inhibition in vitro Open
Neurodegenerative disorders are typically featured by the occurrence of neuronal inclusions. In the case of Parkinson’s disease (PD) these correspond to Lewy bodies (LBs), which are routinely defined as proteinaceous inclusions composed of…
View article: Combined light and electron microscopy (CLEM) to quantify methamphetamine-induced alpha-synuclein-related pathology
Combined light and electron microscopy (CLEM) to quantify methamphetamine-induced alpha-synuclein-related pathology Open
Methamphetamine (METH) produces a cytopathology, which is rather specific within catecholamine neurons both in vitro and ex vivo, in animal models and chronic METH abusers. This led some authors to postulate a sort of parallelism between M…
View article: The Relevance of Autophagy within Inner Ear in Baseline Conditions and Tinnitus-Related Syndromes
The Relevance of Autophagy within Inner Ear in Baseline Conditions and Tinnitus-Related Syndromes Open
Tinnitus is the perception of noise in the absence of acoustic stimulation (phantom noise). In most patients suffering from chronic peripheral tinnitus, an alteration of outer hair cells (OHC) starting from the stereocilia (SC) occurs. Thi…
View article: Curcumin as a Perspective Protection for Retinal Pigment Epitheliumduring Autophagy Inhibition in the Course of Retinal Degeneration
Curcumin as a Perspective Protection for Retinal Pigment Epitheliumduring Autophagy Inhibition in the Course of Retinal Degeneration Open
Defective autophagy in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is involved in retinal degeneration, mostly in the course of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is an increasingly prevalent retinal disorder, eventually leading to bli…
View article: Autophagy Activation Promoted by Pulses of Light and Phytochemicals Counteracting Oxidative Stress during Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Autophagy Activation Promoted by Pulses of Light and Phytochemicals Counteracting Oxidative Stress during Age-Related Macular Degeneration Open
The seminal role of autophagy during age-related macular degeneration (AMD) lies in the clearance of a number of reactive oxidative species that generate dysfunctional mitochondria. In fact, reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the retina gene…
View article: The Essential Role of Light-Induced Autophagy in the Inner Choroid/Outer Retinal Neurovascular Unit in Baseline Conditions and Degeneration
The Essential Role of Light-Induced Autophagy in the Inner Choroid/Outer Retinal Neurovascular Unit in Baseline Conditions and Degeneration Open
The present article discusses the role of light in altering autophagy, both within the outer retina (retinal pigment epithelium, RPE, and the outer segment of photoreceptors) and the inner choroid (Bruch’s membrane, BM, endothelial cells a…
View article: Autophagy Activation Associates with Suppression of Prion Protein and Improved Mitochondrial Status in Glioblastoma Cells
Autophagy Activation Associates with Suppression of Prion Protein and Improved Mitochondrial Status in Glioblastoma Cells Open
Cells from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) feature up-regulation of the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), which brings deleterious effects on malignancy and disease course. At the cellular level, up-regulation of mTOR affects a number …
View article: Chronic treatment with corticosterone increases the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing cells within specific nuclei of the brainstem reticular formation
Chronic treatment with corticosterone increases the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing cells within specific nuclei of the brainstem reticular formation Open
Cushing's syndrome is due to increased glucocorticoid levels in the body, and it is characterized by several clinical alterations which concern both vegetative and behavioral functions. The anatomical correlates of these effects remain lar…
View article: Bacopa Protects against Neurotoxicity Induced by MPP+ and Methamphetamine
Bacopa Protects against Neurotoxicity Induced by MPP+ and Methamphetamine Open
The neurotoxins methamphetamine (METH) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) damage catecholamine neurons. Although sharing the same mechanism to enter within these neurons, METH neurotoxicity mostly depends on oxidative species, while MP…
View article: Alterations of Mitochondrial Structure in Methamphetamine Toxicity
Alterations of Mitochondrial Structure in Methamphetamine Toxicity Open
Recent evidence shows that methamphetamine (METH) produces mitochondrial alterations that contribute to neurotoxicity. Nonetheless, most of these studies focus on mitochondrial activity, whereas mitochondrial morphology remains poorly inve…
View article: Within the Ischemic Penumbra, Sub-Cellular Compartmentalization of Heat Shock Protein 70 Overlaps with Autophagy Proteins and Fails to Merge with Lysosomes
Within the Ischemic Penumbra, Sub-Cellular Compartmentalization of Heat Shock Protein 70 Overlaps with Autophagy Proteins and Fails to Merge with Lysosomes Open
The brain area which surrounds the frankly ischemic region is named the area penumbra. In this area, most cells are spared although their oxidative metabolism is impaired. area penumbra is routinely detected by immunostaining of a molecule…
View article: Spreading of Alpha Synuclein from Glioblastoma Cells towards Astrocytes Correlates with Stem-like Properties
Spreading of Alpha Synuclein from Glioblastoma Cells towards Astrocytes Correlates with Stem-like Properties Open
Evidence has been recently provided showing that, in baseline conditions, GBM cells feature high levels of α-syn which are way in excess compared with α-syn levels measured within control astrocytes. These findings are consistent along var…
View article: Inhibition of Autophagy In Vivo Extends Methamphetamine Toxicity to Mesencephalic Cell Bodies
Inhibition of Autophagy In Vivo Extends Methamphetamine Toxicity to Mesencephalic Cell Bodies Open
Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused psychostimulant and a stress-inducing compound, which leads to neurotoxicity for nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) terminals in rodents and primates including humans. In vitro studies indicate that autop…
View article: Lactoferrin Protects against Methamphetamine Toxicity by Modulating Autophagy and Mitochondrial Status
Lactoferrin Protects against Methamphetamine Toxicity by Modulating Autophagy and Mitochondrial Status Open
Lactoferrin (LF) was used at first as a vehicle to deliver non-soluble active compounds to the body, including the central nervous system (CNS). Nonetheless, it soon became evident that, apart from acting as a vehicle, LF itself owns activ…
View article: Norepinephrine Protects against Methamphetamine Toxicity through β2-Adrenergic Receptors Promoting LC3 Compartmentalization
Norepinephrine Protects against Methamphetamine Toxicity through β2-Adrenergic Receptors Promoting LC3 Compartmentalization Open
Norepinephrine (NE) neurons and extracellular NE exert some protective effects against a variety of insults, including methamphetamine (Meth)-induced cell damage. The intimate mechanism of protection remains difficult to be analyzed in viv…
View article: Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin in Methamphetamine-Induced Toxicity
Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin in Methamphetamine-Induced Toxicity Open
Curcumin (CUR), a natural polyphenol extracted from rhizome of the Curcuma longa L, has received great attention for its multiple potential health benefits as well as disease prevention. For instance, CUR protects against toxic agents acti…
View article: Editorial: The Functional Anatomy of the Reticular Formation
Editorial: The Functional Anatomy of the Reticular Formation Open
Editorial on the research topic of a special issue on the functional anatomy of the reticular formation
View article: The Effects of Amphetamine and Methamphetamine on the Release of Norepinephrine, Dopamine and Acetylcholine From the Brainstem Reticular Formation
The Effects of Amphetamine and Methamphetamine on the Release of Norepinephrine, Dopamine and Acetylcholine From the Brainstem Reticular Formation Open
Amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH) are widely abused psychostimulants, which produce a variety of psychomotor, autonomic and neurotoxic effects. The behavioral and neurotoxic effects of both compounds (from now on defined as AMP…
View article: In search for a gold-standard procedure to count motor neurons in the spinal cord.
In search for a gold-standard procedure to count motor neurons in the spinal cord. Open
Counting motor neurons within the spinal cord and brainstem represents a seminal step to comprehend the anatomy and physiology of the final common pathway sourcing from the CNS. Motor neuron loss allows to assess the severity of motor neur…
View article: Ambiguous Effects of Autophagy Activation Following Hypoperfusion/Ischemia
Ambiguous Effects of Autophagy Activation Following Hypoperfusion/Ischemia Open
Autophagy primarily works to counteract nutrient deprivation that is strongly engaged during starvation and hypoxia, which happens in hypoperfusion. Nonetheless, autophagy is slightly active even in baseline conditions, when it is useful t…
View article: Protective effects of long-term lithium administration in a slowly progressive SMA mouse model
Protective effects of long-term lithium administration in a slowly progressive SMA mouse model Open
In the present study we evaluated the long-term effects of lithium administration to a knock-out double transgenic mouse model (Smn-/-; SMN1A2G+/-; SMN2+/+) of Spinal Muscle Atrophy type III (SMA-III). This model is characterized by very l…
View article:
Realdo Colombo in the fifth centenary of his birth
Realdo Colombo in the fifth centenary of his birth Open
The date of birth of Realdo Colombo is still uncertain. However, 1516 is conventionally credited as the year where he was born in Cremona. Colombo’s life can be divided into three periods, according to the cities where he worked: Padua, Pi…
View article: The Neuroanatomy of the Reticular Nucleus Locus Coeruleus in Alzheimer’s Disease
The Neuroanatomy of the Reticular Nucleus Locus Coeruleus in Alzheimer’s Disease Open
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) features the accumulation of β-amyloid and Tau aggregates, which deposit as extracellular plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), respectively. Neuronal Tau aggregates may appear early in life, in…
View article: Loud Noise Exposure Produces DNA, Neurotransmitter and Morphological Damage within Specific Brain Areas
Loud Noise Exposure Produces DNA, Neurotransmitter and Morphological Damage within Specific Brain Areas Open
Exposure to loud noise is a major environmental threat to public health. Loud noise exposure, apart from affecting the inner ear, is deleterious for cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous systems and it is associated with neuropsychiatric d…
View article: Rapamycin promotes differentiation increasing βIII-tubulin, NeuN, and NeuroD while suppressing nestin expression in glioblastoma cells
Rapamycin promotes differentiation increasing βIII-tubulin, NeuN, and NeuroD while suppressing nestin expression in glioblastoma cells Open
Glioblastoma cells feature mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) up-regulation which relates to a variety of effects such as: lower survival, higher infiltration, high stemness and radio- and chemo-resistance. Recently, it was demonstrated …
View article: The inflammatory protein Pentraxin 3 in cardiovascular disease
The inflammatory protein Pentraxin 3 in cardiovascular disease Open
View article: Mascagni’s bicentenary: the “prince of anatomists” in Pisa
Mascagni’s bicentenary: the “prince of anatomists” in Pisa Open
The bicentenary of Paolo Mascagni’s death is the occasion to celebrate an anatomist who strongly took in the spirit of the Enlightenment. Mascagni spent the first part of his life in the University of Siena, where he had many interests, in…
View article: Altered intercellular diffusion of misfolded proteins in neuroglia
Altered intercellular diffusion of misfolded proteins in neuroglia Open
Intercellular communication is a physiological mechanism underlying cellular and systemic homeostasis. This occurs either through direct cell to cell contact (e.g. trogocytosis and tunneling nanotubes) or it involves vesicles secretion (e.…
View article: Neuroanatomy as a guide to understand disease spreading
Neuroanatomy as a guide to understand disease spreading Open
The classic region-specific characterization of various neurodegenerative disorders and acute neurological insults has been challenged by recent studies showing multiple brain areas and peripheral sites in addition to those specifically de…
View article: Lamina X of the spinal cord in motor neuron disease
Lamina X of the spinal cord in motor neuron disease Open
A number of plastic events were described in the spinal cord in the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These consist of various morphological effects, involving neurons, glia, and inflammatory cells, as well. Among plastic chan…