Relation between climatic condition, temperature and moisture in the subsoil of Turin Plain

Unconfined aquifer, unsaturated zone, satured zone, Po River, temperatur

Urban groundwater warming in Turin area (NW Italy)

Low enthalpy, geothermal systems, alluvial, temperatur

Effects of cryopreservation on the mitochondrial bioenergetics of bovine sperm

This study evaluated the bioenergetic map of mitochondria metabolism in cryopreserved bovine sperm. The detected oligomycin-sensitive basal respiration supported ATP production; frozen-thawed spermatozoa were found to have a coupling efficiency higher than 0.80. Cell respiration, however, was not stimulated by the protonophoric action of FCCP, as its titration with 1, 2, 4 and 6 mu M did not stimulate the uncoupling activity on oxidative phosphorylation as highlighted by unresponsive oxygen consumption. The unusual effect on the stimulation of maximal respiration was not related to fibronectin- or PDL-coated plates used for cellular metabolism analysis. Conversely, irradiation of frozen-thawed bovine sperm with the red light improved mitochondrial parameters. In effect, the maximal respiration of red-light-stimulated sperm in PDL-coated plates was higher than the non-irradiated. In spite of this, red-light irradiation had no impact on membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity evaluated by epifluorescence microscopy

Sex-sorted canine sperm cryopreservation: Limits and procedural considerations

The aim of this study was to define a protocol to store dog sperm before and after sorting to obtain an insemination dose sufficient to allow the conception by artificial insemination. Experiment 1 and 2 were performed to evaluate the more appropriate extender for preserving at room temperature dog sperm before and after sorting. Four extenders were tested: (1) Tris-fructose-citrate (TFC), (2) Tris-glucose-citrate (TGC), (3) modified Tyrode\u2019s albumin lactate pyruvate medium (mTALP), and (4) third fraction of the ejaculate (after centrifugation at 5000 g for 10 minutes; III FRAC). Experiment 3 and 4 were performed to evaluate the ability of dog semen to withstand sex sorting and freezing/thawing. Modified Tyrode\u2019s albumin lactate pyruvate medium was the best extender for canine sperm storage at room temperature (20 C\u201325 C) before (total motility: TFC, 8.3 1.7; TGC, 50.0 11.5; mTALP, 70.0 0.1; III FRAC, 25.0 1 0.4; P < 0.05) and after sorting (total motility: TFC, 7.3 1.5; TGC, 10.3 1.5; mTALP, 33.3 6.7; III FRAC, 8.7 5.8; P < 0.05), even if at 24- hour sorted sperm quality was impaired in all extenders tested herein. Sperm quality decreased after sorting (total motility: control, 92.5 0.9; sorted, 52.9 6.0; P < 0.05) and, especially, after freezing/thawing (total motility: frozen control, 25.7 4.1; frozen sorted, 2.4 1.2; P < 0.05). In conclusion, mTALP is an appropriate medium for canine sperm storage before and soon after sorting (hours), but a long storage period of sexed sperm at room temperature is not adequate. Cryopreservation greatly impaired sperm quality, and further studies are needed to optimize the freezing protocol for sexed dog sperm