Elisabetta Giorgini

Probiotics Can Induce Follicle Maturational Competence: The Danio rerio Case

ABSTRACT In the present study, the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501 on the acquisition of oocyte maturational competence was examined in zebrafish (Danio rerio). L. rhamnosus administration induced the responsiveness of incompetent follicles (stage IIIa) to 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and their in vitro maturation. Acquisition of competence by the stage IIIa follicles was further validated by changes of lhr, mprb, inhbaa (activin betaA1), tgfb1, and gdf9 gene expression, which have recently emerged as key regulators of oocyte acquisition of maturational competence, and pou5f1 gene expression, which in other models has been shown to govern the establishment of developmental competence of oocytes. In addition, a DNA microarray experiment was conducted using the same follicles, and with relative gene ontology (GO) data analysis, the molecular effects of probiotic administration emerged. Molecular analysis using PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) approach, providing information about only the most abundant bacterial members of the microbial community, revealed that the probiotic was able to populate the gastrointestinal tract and modulate the microbial communities, causing a clear shift in them and specifically enhancing the presence of the lactic acid bacteria Streptococcus thermophilus. At the same time, PCR-DGGE analysis revealed that the probiotic was not directly associated with the ovaries. Finally, the effects of probiotic treatment on zebrafish follicle development were also analyzed by FPA (focal plane array) Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) imaging, a technique that provides the overall biochemical composition of samples. Changes were found above all in stage IIIa follicles from probiotic-exposed females; the modifications, observed in protein secondary structures as well as in hydration and in bands related to phosphate moieties, allowed us to hypothesize that probiotics act at this follicle stage, affecting the maturation phase.

The influence of probiotics on zebrafish Danio rerio innate immunity and hepatic stress.

In this study, the effects of probiotic administration on zebrafish Danio rerio intestinal innate immunity and hepatic stress were evaluated. Zebrafish adults were treated for 10 days with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501(®). To assess the effects at the molecular level, the mRNA levels of genes involved in the innate immune system, stress response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. An increase of biomarkers related to innate immune responses was observed in intestinal tissue from the probiotic-treated fish compared with the control fish. In addition, a decrease in the abundance of stress and apoptotic-related genes was observed in the liver of the probiotic-fed fish. Finally, imaging Fourier transform infrared analysis was conducted on liver sections and the data obtained confirmed that probiotic administration decreased oxidative stress levels, decreased DNA damage, and increased lipid saturation levels. Overall, the results show that probiotic administration may enhance zebrafish welfare by modulating the innate immune response and improving hepatic stress tolerance.

Microimaging FTIR of head and neck tumors. IV.

On continuing our studies on head and neck neoplasia, specimens from salivary gland tumors have been explored by using infrared microimaging spectroscopy to discern healthy from neoplastic tissues. Samples with Warthin tumor, epithelial displasia, marginal B‐cell lymphoma, low‐grade adenocarcinoma, and adenoid cystic carcinoma pathologies have been investigated by using conventional light sources. Changes were monitored at the molecular level, probing spectral markers such as Amide I and II, phosphate, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates vibrational modes. In all cases, supervised and unsupervised spectral analyses resulted in satisfactory agreement with histopathological findings. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009.

FT-IR study of two [2-oxo-pyrrolidin-4-yl]carboxylate diastereomers in different solvent systems

Abstract The infrared study of the solvent effect on two diasteroisomeric (3R)- and (3S)-1-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]-2-oxo-pyrrolidin-4-yl-carboxylates ( A and B ) acting as homo- β -proline inhibitory neurotransmitter precursors, is reported. Apart from the slight red shift of the carbonyl bands of A , the interactions of the title compounds with the solvents are comparable. In hydroxylic solvents, the solutes are hosts in intermolecularly H-bonded alcohol clusters, the percentage of specific solute–solvent interaction being higher for compound A . This result confirms theoretical findings and X-ray diffraction studies.

A study on the interactions between coenzyme Q 0 and superoxide anion. Could ubiquinones mimic superoxide dismutase (SOD)

An electrochemical study was carried out on 1,4-benzoquinone, duroquinone, coenzymes Q0 and Q10 in the absence and in the presence of molecular oxygen in aprotic (DMF) and protic (DMF/H2O 95:5 (v/v)) media. Water was added because the investigated reactions are deeply influenced by the presence of protons. Q0 and Q10 exhibited a similar electrochemical behaviour. Since Q0 is more soluble in protic medium than the biologically more important analogue Q10, it was chosen as a model for a more detailed investigation. Voltammetric studies of Q0 carried out in aprotic and protic media in the presence of oxygen showed that, besides simple O2·− dismutation, the Q0 promoted dismutation of O2·− should also be considered. Spectroelectrochemical experiments with the same experimental conditions support the electrochemical results, showing that in the presence of superoxide and in aprotic medium semiquinone Q0·− gives rise to a disproportionation equilibrium, while in the presence of water it tends to be reoxidized to the starting Q0 by OOH·. EPR measurements are also in agreement with these results.

Histological and microscopy FT-IR imaging study on the proliferative activity and angiogenesis in head and neck tumours.

Micro Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy enables one to study small samples because of the high quality spectra that can be obtained. Biochemical and morphological changes between control and pathological tissues of head and neck tumours have been monitored drawing three-dimensional chemical maps of the main vibrational modes in the regions of interest. Comparison between spectral and histological data shows a satisfactory degree of accordance. Among all, proliferating and regressive states of the tumours can be identified.

Dietary administration of EDC mixtures: A focus on fish lipid metabolism

Many man-made chemical compounds are recognized as endocrine disruptors and once released into the environment are likely to spread and bioaccumulate in wild species. Due to their lipophilic nature, these substances pass through the cell membrane or bind to specific receptors activating physiological responses that in the long run can cause reproductive impairment, physiological disorders, including the occurrence of metabolic syndromes. One significant source of contamination is represented by the consumption of polluted food. As a consequence, different environmental pollutants, with similar or different modes of action, can accumulate in organisms and biomagnify along the food web, finally targeting humans. The aim of this study was to analyze, under controlled conditions, the effects induced by the consumption of contaminated diets, focusing on the effects exerted at hepatic level. Juvenile seabream were fed for 21days a diet enriched with different combinations of pollutants, nonylphenol (NP), tert-octylphenol (t-OP) and bisphenol A (BPA). The different diets containing 5mg/kg bw of each contaminant, were formulated as follows: NP+tOP, BPA+NP, BPA+tOP and NP+BPA+tOP (NBO). EDCs, at the doses administered, showed low biomagnification factor (BMF), suggesting that these pollutants hardly accumulate in muscles. The results obtained at hepatic level pinpointed the steatotic effect of all the administered diets, associated to a modulation of the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism (ppars, fas, lpl, and hsl). Results were compared to those obtained in previous studies in which fish were fed single pollutants evidencing that the administration of mixture of contaminants exerts a milder lipogenic effect, highlighting the contrasting/antagonistic interaction establishing among chemicals. Noteworthy was the setup of a new chromatographic method to detect the presence of the selected chemical in fish muscle and the application of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis to evaluate pollutant-induced changes in the liver macromolecular building.

FTIR microspectroscopy of melanocytic skin lesions: a preliminary study

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy has been employed to investigate benign (ordinary dermal and Reed nevi), dysplastic and malignant (invasive melanoma) skin lesions through the analysis of spectral changes of melanocytes as well as in the evaluation of the presence of melanin. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis led to a satisfactory separation of malignant from dysplastic and normal melanocytes. Also, on enlarging the clustering with spectra from Reed and dermal nevi, the multivariate analysis segregated well the spectral data into discrete clusters, allowing the obtaining of reliable average spectra for analysis at the molecular level of the main groups or components responsible for the biological and biochemical changes. The most significant spectral characteristics appear to be related to differences in secondary protein structures, in nucleic acid conformation, in intra- and intermolecular bonding. In all cases, supervised and unsupervised spectral analyses resulted in satisfactory agreement with histopathological findings.

Complexes of azobisindoles with π-organic acceptors

Complexes of azobisindoles with tetracyanoethylene and tetracyanoquinodimethane were studied by UV-Vis, FT-IR, Raman, NMR and X-ray spectroscopies. FT-IR and Raman spectra, as well as X-ray analysis, gave useful information on the participation of various sites to the association, through analysis of CN and N=N vibrational modes, while UV-Vis and NMR spectra were less helpful. The crystal structure of complexes 1-ethyl-2-phenyl-3-(1-ethyl-2-phenyl-3-azoindole)indole/TCNE,3a and 1,2-diphenyl-3-(1,2-diphenyl-3-azoindole)indole/TCNQ,5b are reported. In the two complexes, the distances between donor and acceptor planes range between 3.4 and 3.5 Å; in3a tetracyanoethylene faces the phenyl ring of the indole, while in5b the superposition of tetracyanoquinodimethane with the donor is negligible. Compound3a,P−1,a=9.504(2),b=9.513(3),c=8.941(2) Å, α=97.81(4), β=103.38(3), γ=84.14(2)°,Z=2,Dcalc=2.55 g cm−3; compound5b,P−1,a=12.648(3),b=12.205(2),c=7.263(3) Å, α=103.69(2), β=91.23(3), γ=110.61(2)°,Z=2,Dcalc=2.53 g cm−3.

Melatonin and peripheral circuitries: insights on appetite and metabolism in Danio rerio.

Melatonin is a neuroendocrine transducer of circadian/circannual rhythms able to synchronize organisms physiological activity. On the basis of our recent findings on appetite regulation by melatonin in the zebrafish brain, the aim of this study was to evaluate melatonins role in peripheral circuitries regulating food intake, growth, and lipid metabolism. For this purpose, the effect of two melatonin doses (100 nM and 1 μM) administered for 10 days, via water, to adult zebrafish was evaluated at both physiological and molecular levels. The major signals controlling energy homeostasis were analyzed together. Additionally, the effect of melatonin doses on muscle metabolic resources was evaluated. The results obtained indicate that melatonin reduces food intake by stimulating molecules involved in appetite inhibition, such as leptin (LPT), in the liver and intestine and MC4R, a melanocortin system receptor, in the liver. Moreover, melatonin decreases hepatic insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene expression, involved in growth process and other signals involved in lipid metabolism such as proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, β, and γ) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP). These results were correlated with lower levels of lipids in the muscles as evidenced by the macromolecular pools analyses. The findings obtained in this study could be of great interest for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms as the basis of food intake control and, in turn, can be a useful tool for medical and aquaculture applications.