Duccio Vanni

Cortical and brainstem neurons containing calcium‐binding proteins in a murine model of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy: Selective changes in the sensorimotor cortex

In the muscular dystrophic (mdx) mouse, which is characterized by deficient dystrophin expression and provides a model of Duchennes muscular dystrophy, we previously demonstrated marked central nervous system alterations and in particular a quantitative reduction of corticospinal and rubrospinal neurons and pathologic changes of these cells. Prompted by these findings and in view of the relations between calcium ions and dystrophin, we analyzed with immunohistochemistry the neurons containing the calcium‐binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin D28k, and calretinin in cortical areas and brainstem nuclei of mdx mice. In the sensorimotor cortex, parvalbumin‐positive and calbindin‐positive neurons, which represent a subset of cortical interneurons, were significantly more numerous in mdx mice than in wild‐type ones. In addition, the laminar distribution of parvalbumin‐positive neurons in the motor and somatosensory cortical areas of mdx mice was altered with respect to wild‐type animals. No alterations in the number and distribution were found in the parvalbumin‐ or calbindin‐expressing cell populations of the visual and anterior cingulate cortices of mdx mice. The pattern of calretinin immunoreactivity was normal in all investigated cortical areas. The cell populations containing either calcium‐binding protein were similar in brainstem nuclei of mdx and wild‐type mice. The present findings demonstrated selective changes of subsets of interneurons in the motor and somatosensory cortical areas of mdx mice. Therefore, the data showed that, in the cortices of these mutant animals, the previously demonstrated pathologic changes of corticospinal cell populations are accompanied by marked alterations in the local circuitry. J. Comp. Neurol. 456:48–59, 2003.

The organisation of spinal projecting brainstem neurons in an animal model of muscular dystrophy: A retrograde tracing study on mdx mutant mice

Previous studies we performed on the mdx mouse demonstrated marked central nervous system alterations in this model of human Duchenne muscular dystrophy, such as reduction in number and pathological changes of cortico-spinal neurons. Prompted by these findings we extended the survey of the mdx brain to the major brainstem-descending pathways: the rubro-, vestibulo-, reticulo-, and raphe-spinal projections. Horseradish peroxidase microinjections were performed in the cervical spinal cord of mdx and control mice. The rubro-spinal neurons were found to be significantly reduced in mutants compared to controls. The vestibulo-spinal, reticulo-spinal, and raphe-spinal cell populations, though less numerous in mdx than in control mice, were instead substantially spared. Our data further unveil the selective nature of mdx brain damage indicating a marked and selective involvement of the highest centers for motor control.

Caratteristiche depressive, strategie di coping e ambiente familiare in adolescenza

Depressive characteristic, coping strategies and familiar context in adolescence - The main purpose of this paper is to study depressive characteristics in adolescents and their link with parental relationship and coping strategies. It is our aims also to analyse the influence of particiants’ gender on these varaibles. Four hundred thirty-six participants (214 males; 222 females), aged fourteen to twenty-two years, were recruited. A set of were employed Depression Scale (Newcomer, Barembaum and Bryant, 1995), Parental Bonding Instrument (Parker, Tupling and Brown, 1979), Coping Strategy Indicator (Amirkhan, 1990). Depressive characteristics were related to overprotection and low parental care; depressive charachteristics, indeed, were related to coping strategies, in particular to avoidance.