Simona Pergolizzi

Extracts deriving from olive mill waste water and their effects on the liver of the goldfish Carassius auratus fed with hypercholesterolemic diet.

The present research aims to evaluate the beneficial effects of polyphenols derived from waste water from a olive mill, obtained by non-plastic molecular imprinting device, in a hypercholesterolemic diet on Carassius auratus, commonly known as goldfish that was selected as experimental model. The study was conducted with morphological and histochemical analyses and also the data were supported by immunohistochemical analysis. Results show the beneficial activity of polyphenols with a reduction of the damage in the steatotic group, confirming that they may be suggested in the treatment of diseases by lipid accumulation, and used as any addition in feed for farmed fish, in order to improve the organoleptic and nutritional quality. The beneficial effects of waste oil extract should be suggested in the contexts of research programmes focused on the products to the health system. Furthermore, the olive mill waste water polyphenols free can be used as natural fertilizers.

Mast cells in the intestine and gills of the sea bream, Sparus aurata, exposed to a polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB 126

The presence of mast cells has been reported in all classes of vertebrates, including many teleost fish families. The mast cells of teleosts, both morphologically and functionally, show a close similarity to the mast cells of mammals. Mast cells of teleosts, localized in the vicinity of blood vessels of the intestine, gills and skin, may play an important role in the mechanisms of inflammatory response, because they express a number of functional proteins, including piscidins, which are antimicrobical peptides that act against a broad-spectrum of pathogens. An increase in the number of mast cells in various tissues and organs of teleosts seems to be linked to a wide range of stressful conditions, such as exposure to heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead and mercury), exposure to herbicides and parasitic infections. This study analyzed the morphological localization and abundance of mast cells in the intestine and gills of sea bream, Sparus aurata, after a 12, 24 or 72 h exposure to PCB 126, a polychlorinated biphenyl, which is a potent immunotoxic agent. In the organs of fish exposed to PCB 126, it was observed that in addition to congestion of blood vessels, there was extravasation of red blood cells, infiltration of lymphocytes, and a progressive increase in numbers of mast cells. These data confirm the immunotoxic action of PCB, and the involvement of mast cells in the inflammatory response.

Behaviour of laminin 1 and type IV collagen in uninvolved psoriatic skin. Immunohistochemical study using confocal laser scanning microscopy

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence in psoriatic lesions of ultrastructural and molecular alterations of the basement membrane and an altered polarized distribution of the integrins; this latter alteration has also been observed in uninvolved skin. The aim of the present study was to determine, by means of immunolocalization with monoclonal antibodies directed against laminin 1 and type IV collagen and using confocal scanning laser microscopy, whether there are also alterations of the main components of the basement membrane in uninvolved skin. The findings showed a discontinuous and fragmented staining of laminin 1 and a normal distribution of type IV collagen. Taking into account both these results and the results of studies on epithelial cell lines, the authors hypothesize the existence of a functional deficit in psoriatic keratinocytes affecting the synthesis of the α1 subunit of laminin. This deficit would explain: (1) the incapacity to produce mature trimeric laminin; (2) the altered assembly into a distinct basal lamina; (3) the loss of keratinocyte adhesion to the basement membrane; (4) alterations in the polarized distribution of the integrins; and (5) the consequent total or partial block of the cell signals regulating the processes of cytomorphosis. Already present in uninvolved skin, and enhanced by various irritative stimuli, this situation could be decisive for the appearance of psoriatic lesions.

Hepatoprotective activity of Trichilia roka on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

Trichilia roka Chiov. (Meliaceae) is a tree widely distributed in tropical Africa. It has been used in Mali folk medicine for the treatment of various illnesses. A decoction of the roots is taken as a remedy for colds and pneumonia, and it is used as a diuretic and in hepatic disorders. We have evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of a decoction of Trichilia roka root on CCl4‐induced acute liver damage in rats. Treatment with the decoction showed a significant protective action made evident by its effect on the levels of glutamate oxalacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase in the serum, on the protein content and lipid peroxidation levels in the liver homogenate. Histopathological changes produced by CCl4, such as necrosis, fatty change, ballooning degeneration and inflammatory infiltration of lymphocytes around the central veins, were clearly recovered by the treatment with Trichilia root decoction. On fractionating this extract into diethyl ether‐soluble and water‐soluble fractions, the activity was retained in the diethyl ether‐soluble fraction. Moreover, the administration of decoction prevented a preferential deposition of collagen around the sinusoidal cell layer, which is responsible for the perisinusoidal fibrosis in the early stage of CCl4 damage. This study showed that treatment with Trichilia roka extracts or silymarin (as reference) appeared to enhance the recovery from CCl4‐induced hepatotoxicity. The hepatoprotective properties of Trichilia roka may be correlated to polyphenol content of the decoction and its diethyl ether‐soluble fraction.

Immunohistochemical study of epidermal nerve fibres in involved and uninvolved psoriatic skin using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Abstract Psoriasis is a typical hyperproliferative epidermal disease whose aetiopathogenesis is still to be defined. One of the most likely hypotheses is that it has a neurogenic origin correlated with an altered release of some neuropeptides by sensitive cutaneous nerves via antidromic pathways. As there are conflicting reports about the existence of cutaneous nerve alterations in psoriasis, we carried out an immunolocalization study using the protein gene product 9.5 as a marker for neuronal structures observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy in order to determine the pattern of sensory nerves in psoriatic skin. The investigation was carried out on cutaneous biopsies taken from involved (mature and long-established lesions) and uninvolved skin of ten patients with extensive chronic plaque psoriasis. In uninvolved psoriatic skin a significant decrease in epidermal nerve fibres was found, a further decrease was observed in mature lesions and almost a complete lack of epidermal nerve fibres in long-established psoriatic lesions. The reduction in epidermal nerve fibres and the consequent loss of relationship between these nerve structures and the skin immunocompetent cells (antigen-presenting cells, Langerhans cells, keratinocytes) might be a factor of fundamental importance in the self-maintenance of the disease.

Citrus bergamia Risso & Poiteau juice protects against renal injury of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats.

The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of treatment with Citrus bergamia juice (1 mL/day, for 30 days) against hypercholesterolemic diet‐induced renal injury in rat.

Morphology and innervation of the teleost physostome swim bladders and their functional evolution in non-teleostean lineages

Swim bladders and lungs are homologous structures. Phylogenetically ancient actinopterygian fish such as Cladistians (Polypteriformes), Ginglymods (Lepisosteids) and lungfish have primitive lungs that have evolved in the Paleozoic freshwater earliest gnathostomes as an adaptation to hypoxic stress. Here we investigated the structure and the role of autonomic nerves in the physostome swim bladder of the cyprinid goldfish (Carassius auratus) and the respiratory bladder of lepisosteids: the longnose gar and the spotted gar (Lepisosteus osseus and L. oculatus) to demonstrate that these organs have different innervation patterns that are responsible for controlling different functional aspects. The goldfish swim bladder is a richly innervated organ mainly controlled by cholinergic and adrenergic innervation also involving the presence of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitters (nNOS, VIP, 5-HT and SP), suggesting a simple model for the regulation of the swim bladder system. The pattern of the autonomic innervation of the trabecular muscle of the Lepisosteus respiratory bladder is basically similar to that of the tetrapod lung with overlapping of both muscle architecture and control nerve patterns. These autonomic control elements do not exist in the bladders of the two species studied since they have very different physiological roles. The ontogenetic origin of the pulmonoid swim bladder (PSB) of garfishes may help understand how the expression of these autonomic control substances in the trabecular muscle is regulated including their interaction with the corpuscular cells in the respiratory epithelium of this bimodal air-breathing fish.

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller as a source of bioactivity compounds for health and nutrition

Abstract Plants with beneficial properties are known in traditional medicine. Nowadays, in spite of widespread availability of synthetic compounds, the search goes towards natural compounds to lower cost and few side effects. The increasing interest in preventive medicine encourages use of nutraceuticals, bioactive compounds of vegetable origin with important nutritional values. Among the medicinal plants, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller (Family Cactaceae, subfamily Opuntiodeae, Genus Opuntia, subgenus Platyopuntia, species Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller) is widely known for its beneficial properties. The aim of the present review is to stress the major classes of Opuntia components and their medical interest through emphasis on some of their biological effects, particularly those having the most promising expected health benefits and therapeutic impacts on fish and mammals.

Changes in the distribution of actin-associated proteins in psoriatic keratinocytes. Immunohistochemical study using confocal laser scanning microscopy

Recent studies support the presence of adherens junctions at the dermal–epidermal interface in addition to hemidesmosomes. In this area the integrin/actin-containing cytoskeleton connection occurs by means of a complex of proteins called actin-associated proteins (talin, vinculin, α-actinin). As previous studies have demonstrated the presence in psoriatic lesions of marked alterations in both the basement membrane molecular composition and the polarized expression of integrins, we decided to determine whether alterations in the behaviour of the actin-associated proteins could be demonstrated. We thus undertook an immunolocalization study with monoclonal antibodies directed against talin, vinculin, and α-actinin in cutaneous biopsies taken from involved and uninvolved skin of 12 patients with extensive chronic plaque psoriasis. The findings showed an almost total lack of reaction against talin and vinculin in the basal layer and an increased positivity against the proteins in the suprabasal layers. Similar, though less marked, alterations were present in uninvolved psoriatic skin. These results, in agreement with those of previous studies, confirm serious alterations in the matrix protein/cytoskeleton connection system, and support the hypothesis that this condition may play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

The structural organization and immunohistochemistry of G-protein alpha subunits in the olfactory system of the air-breathing mudskipper, Periophthalmus barbarus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Gobiidae, Oxudercinae)

The study provides the first comprehensive information on the immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure of the olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in the mudskipper, Periophthalmus barbarus. The olfactory sensory epithelium is in the form of islets which cover part of the olfactory canal running from the upper lip toward the eye, where large single accessory nasal sacs occur. Within the islets, microvillous, ciliated and crypt ORNs were observed as well as giant cells and sparse non-sensory ciliated cells. Around the islets and in the walls of accessory nasal sacs, there are epidermal cells with microridges typical of fish epidermis. Close to the entrance to the accessory nasal sac, in the non-sensory epithelium of the nasal cavity and the skin epithelium covering the olfactory organ, areas of solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) are reported for the first time. The distribution of the various ORN cell types is assessed through the immunohistochemistry against olfactory receptor coupled G-proteins. The ciliated ORNs were labeled by G alpha olf/s antibody. The ORNs with microvilli and crypt cells were G alpha i-3 immunoreactive.