Neurosensory Alterations in Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Window to Neurological Impairments Associated to Preterm Birth

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the main blinding diseases affecting preterm newborns and is classically considered a vascular disorder. The premature exposure to the extrauterine environment, which is hyperoxic in respect to the intrauterine environment, triggers a cascade of events leading to retinal ischemia which, in turn, makes the retina hypoxic thus setting off angiogenic processes. However, many children with a history of ROP show persistent vision impairment, and there is evidence of an association between ROP and neurosensory disabilities. This is not surprising given the strict relationship between neuronal function and an adequate blood supply. In the present work, we revised literature data evidencing to what extent ROP can be considered a neurodegenerative disease, also taking advantage from data obtained in preclinical models of ROP. The involvement of different retinal cell populations in triggering the neuronal damage in ROP was described along with the neurological outcomes associated to ROP. The situation of ROP in Italy was assessed as well

The hybridogenetic Rana (Pelophylax) esculenta complex studied in a molecular context

The study of hybridogenesis is expected to shed light on the role played by the so-called ‘asexual reproduction’ in vertebrate evolution, since hybridogenesis, gynogenesis and parthenogenesis are restricted to lower vertebrates. Hence, it seemed interesting to define the stage and time of germline differentiation in reproductively unstable organisms which, to accomplish functional gamete maturation, can change the normal approach to meiosis by means of unusual cytological steps, such as genome elimination and endoreduplication. The cytogenetic aspects of ‘asexual’ meiosis have already been thoroughly studied. At present, molecular investigations are in progress to characterise the single steps of germline differentiation in a hybridogenetic green frog system, and the results obtained so far can be considered promising, as shown in this work. Vasa, PL10 and Y-box homolog genes, first isolated in Rana (Pelophylax), are expressed during early phases of gametogenesis in R. (P.) ridibunda and R. (P.) lessonae (parental species), and R. (P.) esculenta (their natural hybrid), suggesting that gametogenesis, during the adult life, follows a unique genetic sequence in the two parental species as well as in hybridogenetic hybrids. Similar molecular investigations need to be carried out on larval stages prior to metamorphosis, when the genetic plasticity of gemline cells allows their commitment versus either the standard and/or hybridogenetic reproduction mode

The serotonin 5-HT2B receptor from the puffer fish Tetraodon fluviatilis: cDNA cloning, genomic organization and alternatively spliced variants

We cloned the 5-HT2B serotonin receptor from the puffer fish Tetraodon fluviatilis. Two cDNAs differing in length because of the use of alternative polyadenylation sites were isolated. We partly characterized the genomic organization of the 5-HT2B gene and we found two introns conserved in position between the puffer fish and mammals. In addition, four splice variants which would generate truncated forms of the receptor were detected