Scanning electron microscopical studies revealed four distinct morphological larva-types (not instars) of Priapulus caudatus whose lorica-length measured 82–860 μm. The smallest of the larvae are round to oval, have 20 longitudinal... more
Scanning electron microscopical studies revealed four distinct morphological larva-types (not instars) of Priapulus caudatus whose lorica-length measured 82–860 μm. The smallest of the larvae are round to oval, have 20 longitudinal ridges, a series of transverse ridges, and have two pairs of laterally situated tubuli near the posterior limits. The second larva-type is dorsoventrally compressed, has a single dorsal and single unsculptured ventral plate each with a prominent midridge near the anterior limits, three infolded lateral plates with a pair of tubuli near the posterior limits. The third and fourth larva-types remain dorsoventrally flattened; the third larva-type has less pronounced sculpturing than the fourth larva-type and is smaller; two pairs of tubuli are situated as in the previous stage. The number and arrangement of scalids on the introvert and pharyngeal teeth differ according to each of the four larva-types and are described. The ultrastructure of all organ systems is described. All scalids are sensilla equipped with ciliated receptor cells. The cuticle is similar to the cuticle in the adult and differs fundamentally from the cuticle of larval Halicryptus. The trunk is richly supplied with sensory structures. Trunk tubuli contain secretory cells. Posteriorly, a gland complex was found which presumably is the precursor of the equivalent gland in postlarvae and adults. The implications of the first larva-type's structural similarity to the larva of Tubiluchus are discussed.
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The subcellular localization and biochemical characteristics of blood group A antigen were studied by immunogold methods and by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting procedures in N-nitrosobis)2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP)-induced pancreatic cancer... more
The subcellular localization and biochemical characteristics of blood group A antigen were studied by immunogold methods and by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting procedures in N-nitrosobis)2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP)-induced pancreatic cancer (PC) in Syrian hamsters, in the pancreatic cancer cell line (PC-1) derived from a primary induced pancreatic cancer, and in intrapancreatic and subcutaneous transplants of PC-1 cells. Normal hamster duodenal epithelial cells expressing A antigen were compared with the normal hamster pancreas (lacking A antigen), human PC tissues from patients with blood group A and human PC cell lines. Blood group A antigen was present on the membrane of hamster duodenal cells, but was absent in the normal pancreatic cells. A antigen was localized mainly on the cell membrane of the hamster cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro. Glycoproteins with blood group A specificity were observed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting procedures in the membrane fraction of PC-1 cells, with a major component of molecular mass of approximately 120 kd. Similar migration patterns were observed in the primary induced PC and in subcutaneous and intrapancreatic transplants of PC-1 cells. Membrane preparations from cell lines derived from two primary pancreatic cancers from patients of blood group A and from human pancreatic cell lines, CD11 and CD18, showed a major A reactive component with a molecular mass similar to that found in the hamster PC cells. These findings suggest that: (i) both the hamster and human PC cells in vitro produce glycoproteins with blood group A specificity of similar molecular masses; (ii) differences exist in the structure of the glycoprotein immunoreactive with the anti-A antigen between the normal and cancerous cells; and (iii) differences exist in the molecular mass of the anti-A reactive substance between hamsters and human PC cells and between tissues in vivo and in vitro.
Research Interests: Electron Microscopy, Localization, Immunohistochemistry, Cell Culture, Cell line, and 15 moreHumans, Pancreas, Animals, Blood groups, Carcinogenesis, Electrophoresis, Subcellular Fractions, Electroforesis, Nitrosamines, Adenocarcinoma, Duodenum, Cell Membrane, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, Cricetinae, and Pancreatic neoplasms
Ricorrendo nel 2020 il 400° anno dal privilegio regio di fondazione dell'Università degli Studi di Cagliari, gli Autori hanno la duplice ambizione di dare un contributo scientifico-culturale alle celebrazioni dell'Ateneo e di... more
Ricorrendo nel 2020 il 400° anno dal privilegio regio di fondazione dell'Università degli Studi di Cagliari, gli Autori hanno la duplice ambizione di dare un contributo scientifico-culturale alle celebrazioni dell'Ateneo e di valorizzare il ruolo dell'Anatomia e del suo insegnamento nella società e nelle vicende medico-sanitarie che hanno accompagnato l'evoluzione della sanità e della cultura medica a Cagliari e in Sardegna. Questo libro illustrato è composto da sette Capitoli. I primi tre, che vanno dalla protostoria ai giorni nostri, affrontano la maggior parte dei momenti storici dell'evoluzione della conoscenza e dell'insegnamento di Anatomia Umana e delle Scienze affini prodotti soprattutto nella città di Cagliari, nella sua Università e nelle sue Istituzioni Anatomiche ospedaliere. Il Capitolo 4 è interamente dedicato ai Teatri Anatomici e alle Sale Anatomiche della città di Cagliari, luoghi prima poco conosciuti o totalmente sconosciuti: un percorso ch...
Giulio Cesare Casseri (1552– 1616), whose name was Latinized into Iulius Casserius, was born in Piacenza; therefore, the nickname Piacentino (Placentinus) was often used. According to Sterzi (1910), who based his claim on a statement... more
Giulio Cesare Casseri (1552– 1616), whose name was Latinized into Iulius Casserius, was born in Piacenza; therefore, the nickname Piacentino (Placentinus) was often used. According to Sterzi (1910), who based his claim on a statement contained in Casserius’s will, his date of birth was around 1552. It should be noted, however, that although most modern authors accept this date (Roberts and Tomlinson, 1992; Premuda, 1993), some (Singer, 1957) still report 1561 as his birth date on the basis of the inscription (Fig. 1) appearing on the portrait published in Casserius’s work De Vocis Auditusque organis that ascribes to the author the age of 39 years. According to most of his early biographers (Tomasini, 1630; Ghilini, 1647; Papadopoli, 1726), Casserius’s family was very poor and the young Iulius, perhaps as the servant of some student (Sterzi, 1910), moved to Padua, the city that shared with Bologna the reputation of being the seat of Italy’s most illustrious university. He soon assumed the job of servant in the house of the famed Gerolamo Fabrici d’Acquapendente (Fabricius, 1533– 1619) (Fig. 2), Public Lecturer of Anatomy and Surgery (Tomasini, 1630; Ghilini, 1647). As Tomasini (1630) reports, “from a servant he became first Fabricius’s auditor, then instructor and brilliant disciple.” We do not know when Casserius matriculated in the School of Medicine of the Universita Artista. As mentioned several times in his works, Casserius, in addition to Fabricius, had the well-known physician Gerolamo Mercuriale (Mercurialis) as a teacher and mentor, who held the chair of Clinical Medicine of Padua in the years 1569–1587. The precise date he obtained his degree in medicine and philosophy is unknown, because the official records are missing from 1580 to 1587; a likely date is ca.1580 (Sterzi, 1910; De Ferrari, 1978; Premuda, 1993). After the award of his degree, Casserius, in addition to giving private lectures on anatomy to the students of the Universita Artista and working as Fabricius’s preparator, started a practice as physician and surgeon in Padua that was very successful (Tomasini, 1630). In 1584, Casserius’s reputation was already so great that he took Fabricius’s place as member of the board of examiners for the finals in surgery. These examinations, held in private houses in the presence of the Rector of the University, conferred the license to practice surgery. The profession of surgery was considered in those days as a minor branch of Medicine and the surgeon had to take an oath that he would not involve himself in the treatment of serious diseases, but would call a licensed physician whenever the patient was in real danger.
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Using specimens of human submandibular glands, we have investigated in vitro the morphological modifications induced by clozapine, a dibenzodiazepine derivative that is used in psychotic patients and that provokes hypersalivation, a... more
Using specimens of human submandibular glands, we have investigated in vitro the morphological modifications induced by clozapine, a dibenzodiazepine derivative that is used in psychotic patients and that provokes hypersalivation, a side-effect of therapy. The effects of the drug, used alone or in combination with carbachol, have been compared with those observed after treatment with drugs acting on specific receptors. To quantify the response to stimulation, we have calculated (with statistical methods) the number of microvilli and microbuds (corresponding to pits seen in images obtained by transmission electron microscopy) per square micrometre of the cytoplasmic surface of the intercellular canaliculi luminal membrane in images obtained by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. Clozapine, when directly acting on human submandibular specimens, induces a small secretory response in serous cells; this is partially decreased by muscarinic and adrenergic antagonists and by combined incubation with carbachol, thus confirming its behaviour as a partial agonist to muscarinic receptors. We also suggests that the drug acts on the nerve terminals contained within the glandular specimens.
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Luigi Castaldi a pupil of Giulio Chiarugi and promoter, in 1929, with Nello Beccari and Emerico Luna, of the Societa Italiana di Anatomia was, from 1927 to 1943, Director of the Anatomy Institute of the University of Cagliari. His... more
Luigi Castaldi a pupil of Giulio Chiarugi and promoter, in 1929, with Nello Beccari and Emerico Luna, of the Societa Italiana di Anatomia was, from 1927 to 1943, Director of the Anatomy Institute of the University of Cagliari. His publications, encompassing various fields of anatomy, neuroanatomy, auxology, applied anatomy, biology, and experimental morphology were awarded with several prestigious national and international prizes. Similar acknowledgements were granted to his many publications on the History of Anatomy and Medicine. Among them, there are the biographies of Filippo Civinini (1805-1844), Filippo Pacini (1812-1883), Atto Tigri (1813-1875) and the oration given the 29th of September 1935 for the translation of the remains of these illustrious anatomists from Pistoia to the church of S. Maria delle Grazie, adjacent to the Ospedale del Ceppo, the seat of the old Medical School of Pistoia. Nowadays, the most well known of his historical studies, regarded as a true classic, is the masterly essay: “Francesco Antonio Boi primo cattedratico di anatomia a Cagliari e le cere fiorentine di Clemente Susini”. The book, published by L Olschki posthumously in 1947 through the good offices of his friends, and still present in the catalogue of the original publisher, is scrupulously supported by documents found in the archives of Cagliari and Florence. Besides illustrating the figure of FA Boi the Sardinian Anatomist who, by order of Carlo Felice of Savoy, commissioned the wax models for the University of Cagliari to Clemente Susini, Castaldi gives a vivid and unprecedented description of La Specola Museum, and of the personalities responsible for its establishment. Moreover, though highly praising the outstanding scientific achievements of Felice Fontana, for the first time, he ascribes to Clemente Susini the wax modelling, formerly known as the work of Fontana.
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Confirming early findings [76,77,83], histochemical and ultrastructural investigations have shown that the seminal vesicle [4,62,66,68,69], ampulla ductus deferentis [4,5,17,63,67,74], and ejaculatory duct [16,70,71] possess an identical... more
Confirming early findings [76,77,83], histochemical and ultrastructural investigations have shown that the seminal vesicle [4,62,66,68,69], ampulla ductus deferentis [4,5,17,63,67,74], and ejaculatory duct [16,70,71] possess an identical epithelium, consisting of principal (secretory) and basal cells. This represents the lining of the human genital tract from the beginning of the ampulla to the opening of the ejaculatory duct into the prostatic urethra.
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All human minor salivary glands, apart from the posterior deep lingual (von Ebner's) glands which were serous, contained a minor population of seromucous cells that increased from palatine and posterior superficial lingual... more
All human minor salivary glands, apart from the posterior deep lingual (von Ebner's) glands which were serous, contained a minor population of seromucous cells that increased from palatine and posterior superficial lingual (Weber's) to labial, anterior lingual (Blandin and Nuhn's) and buccal glands, in that order. Unlike the predominant mucous cells, whose structure was uniform, serous and seromucous cells exhibited, in each gland, peculiar cytological and cytoarchitectural characters.
Referente a la historia de las ceras anatomicas de Cagliari en Cerdena partiendo como personaje principal Francesco Antonio Boi quien fue un medico y profesor de anatomia sarda y tambien es conocido por su trabajo con la ceroplasta de... more
Referente a la historia de las ceras anatomicas de Cagliari en Cerdena partiendo como personaje principal Francesco Antonio Boi quien fue un medico y profesor de anatomia sarda y tambien es conocido por su trabajo con la ceroplasta de Clemente Susinipara la produccion de ceras anatomicas muy detalladas.
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Antipsychotics are usually associated with hyposalivation. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug for schizophrenia-treatment. Surprisingly, many clozapine-treated patients complain of drooling and hypersalivation particularly during... more
Antipsychotics are usually associated with hyposalivation. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug for schizophrenia-treatment. Surprisingly, many clozapine-treated patients complain of drooling and hypersalivation particularly during night. The medication may be discontinued or anticholinergics may be used to reduce the secretion. Objective secretory studies in humans are few and inconclusive. In vivo animal experiments are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To test the effect of clozapine per se and on the secretion evoked by nerve stimulation or autonomic drugs. METHODS: The parotid and submandibular gland ducts were cannulated in pentobarbitone-anaesthetized rats. Saliva was collected in pre-weighed tubes. Drugs were given I.V. Values are means. RESULTS: 1) Clozapine (a gift from Novartis) evoked secretion over 1-2 hours from both glands. Submandibular glands were more sensitive than parotid glands. All submandibular glands secreted (0.7 l/5 min, n=11) to clozapine 3 mg/kg, while only 2 o...
This paper investigates the ultrastructure of human bulbo-urethral glands using specimens obtained at surgery. The tubulo-alveolar endpieces of these glands are lined by typical mucous cells in different stages of the secretory cycle. The... more
This paper investigates the ultrastructure of human bulbo-urethral glands using specimens obtained at surgery. The tubulo-alveolar endpieces of these glands are lined by typical mucous cells in different stages of the secretory cycle. The most interesting features of their cytoplasm are membrane-bounded bodies with a filamentous texture that usually fuse with the mucous droplets before they discharge into the lumen. Cells with apical dark granules are sometimes encountered in the ductal portions of the gland, which are probably ductal cells endowed with a scanty synthetic and secretory activity. Myoepithelial cells are not very numerous and are observed around mucous cells only.
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The modifications of the endothelial surfaces were analyzed in growing neural microvessels by scanning and transmission electron microscopes in the optic tecta of chick embryos and chickens. The endothelial inner aspect appears regular... more
The modifications of the endothelial surfaces were analyzed in growing neural microvessels by scanning and transmission electron microscopes in the optic tecta of chick embryos and chickens. The endothelial inner aspect appears regular and smooth in the early stages of the vessel growth (7th incubation day). Later (14th incubation day) both the abluminal and luminal surfaces of the endothelium follow a very sinuous course and the luminal ones appear extremely rich in pleomorphic microprojections. When the endothelium differentiation is concluded (5-day-old chicken), the cells are very thin and again exhibit regular and smooth surfaces. These findings reveal a great mobility of the cell membrane of the endothelial cells when they are growing longer and thinner by a moulding process. Moreover, the presence of a number of pinocytotic pits in the embryo vessels would indicate that the neutral vessels, provided with a typically low pinocytotic activity in the adult life, are engaged in t...
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We present here findings obtained on a large number of human tissues over a period of more than ten years, by our modification of the Osmium maceration method for high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). Data are documented... more
We present here findings obtained on a large number of human tissues over a period of more than ten years, by our modification of the Osmium maceration method for high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). Data are documented by original pictures which illustrate both some 3-D intracellular features not previously shown in human tissues, and results obtained in our current studies on mitochondrial morphology and on the secretory process of salivary glands. We have demonstrated that mitochondria of cells of practically all human tissues and organs have usually tubular cristae, and that even the cristae that look lamellar are joined to the inner mitochondrial membrane by tubular connexions similar to the crista junctions later seen by electron tomography. Concerning salivary glands an important result is the development of a morphometric method that allows the quantitative evaluation of the secretory events.
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The secretory and ductal cells of human salivary glands have been studied at Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) by our modification of the Aldehyde-Osmium-DMSO-Osmium (A-ODO) maceration method which enables the analytical study of human... more
The secretory and ductal cells of human salivary glands have been studied at Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) by our modification of the Aldehyde-Osmium-DMSO-Osmium (A-ODO) maceration method which enables the analytical study of human bioptical specimens. The most interesting results are those concerning the visualization of the cytoplasmic aspect of intercellular canaliculi of serous cells and of mitochondria of ductal cells. The canaliculi appear as elongated cylindrical structures fenestrated by holes correspohding to the bases of microvilli deprived of the cytoskeleton. Mitochondria of principal cells are longer and more complex than previously reported.
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Biochemical investigations have shown (Mann, 1964) that the seminal vesicles play an important role in the formation of seminal plasma. In man, constituents of the semen such as fructose (Mann, 1946) and sialic acid (Warren, 1959) have... more
Biochemical investigations have shown (Mann, 1964) that the seminal vesicles play an important role in the formation of seminal plasma. In man, constituents of the semen such as fructose (Mann, 1946) and sialic acid (Warren, 1959) have been attributed to seminal vesicle secretion. In spite of this, no studies concerning the human seminal vesicle have been found in the histochemical literature apart from incidental reports (Glenner, Folk & McMillan, 1962) and scattered data mentioned by Lillie (1965). The present histochemical investigation of the epithelium, which supplements an examination of its fine structure (Riva, 1967), has been particularly focused on substances and enzymes related to fructose metabolism; other constituents of seminal vesicle epithelium such as ribonucleoproteins, lipids, lipofuscins, and sialic acid containing mucins have also been studied.
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The authors have carried out in TEM and SEM a correlative study on human urethral glands. In addition they have studied, at TEM level, the immunohistochemical localization of blood group substances.
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Studies on the fine structure of the bulbourethral glands have been restricted largely to animals [12,14,15,20,29,30,59,60]. A few works were carried out on human bulbourethral (BU) glands by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) [17,... more
Studies on the fine structure of the bulbourethral glands have been restricted largely to animals [12,14,15,20,29,30,59,60]. A few works were carried out on human bulbourethral (BU) glands by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) [17, 38,43,45] and, more recently, two studies [42,44] were published by our group to correlate TEM with scanning electron microscopic (SEM) findings in order to describe the general configuration of this gland in man. Comparison of our results with those reported by the above authors has clearly shown that the human BU glands possess, like other human accessory sex organs [2,6,18,31,33, 41,43,45], some distinctive characteristics [44], even with regard to the more closely related species [29].
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That part of the human sublingual gland that corresponds in morphology to the conventional description of this organ presented in most histology texts (probably the major sublingual gland, in contradistinction to the aggregated small... more
That part of the human sublingual gland that corresponds in morphology to the conventional description of this organ presented in most histology texts (probably the major sublingual gland, in contradistinction to the aggregated small glands that compose the minor sublingual glands) was studied by electron microscopy. The gland is mixed, with slightly more mucous elements than seromucous ones. The mucous cells are arranged in tubules that usually are capped by seromucous demilunes. Seromucous cells also form occasional acini or may be scattered in the walls of the mucous tubules. The appearance of the mucous cells varies with the stage of the secretory cycle that they may be in. Their secretory droplets increase in number and progressively compress cytoplasmic organelles. Filamentous bodies also may be present. Based on secretory-granule substructure, four different kinds of seromucous cells can be recognized; these may be a morphological expression of asynchronous synthesis of different secretory proteins. The duct system is an abbreviated one compared to the other major salivary glands. The first duct segments, into which the mucous tubules drain, are similar to intercalated ducts. Larger ducts contain mitochondria-rich cells but lack the basal striations that characterize striated ducts. The paucity of typical striated ducts may be correlated with the elaboration of sodium-rich saliva by the human sublingual gland.
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Oncocytes occurring in otherwise normal human salivary glands were examined by scanning electron microscopy after being subjected to a maceration technique that removes all soluble cytoplasmic components and leaves only membranes in... more
Oncocytes occurring in otherwise normal human salivary glands were examined by scanning electron microscopy after being subjected to a maceration technique that removes all soluble cytoplasmic components and leaves only membranes in place. The three-dimensional images resulting from this procedure confirm that the majority of oncocyte mitochondria have shelf-like cristae that are attached to the inner boundary membrane, often by means of tubular structures. In some mitochondria, the cristae are digitiform and, when transected, give rise to putative vesicles. The oncocytic mitochondria in human salivary glands, by and large, lack the structural irregularity that has been reported for these organelles occurring in oncocytes in other organs.
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Four cases of Hürthle cell tumor were examined by scanning electron microscopy after being macerated to remove all soluble components. By all morphological criteria, Hürthle cells are oncocytes with their usual augmented complement of... more
Four cases of Hürthle cell tumor were examined by scanning electron microscopy after being macerated to remove all soluble components. By all morphological criteria, Hürthle cells are oncocytes with their usual augmented complement of mitochondria. The Hürthle cell mitochondria either are ovate with central stacks of cristae or elliptical or rod-like with cristae that often are finger-like. As in salivary gland oncocytes, the shelf-like cristae are anchored to the inner boundary membrane by tubular necks. In some Hürthle cells, all of the mitochondria exhibit reticulate cristae. A few mitochondria harbor a globular inclusion in their inner compartment. The Golgi apparatuses are relatively simple, consisting of imbricated saccules that are edged by small, bud-like structures. The rare lumina in the midst of clusters of Hürthle cells are lined by numerous microvilli. Thus, scanning electron microscopy of macerated Hürthle cell tumors has revealed a number of features, especially of their mitochondria, that have escaped detection by transmission electron microscopy.
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The epithelium of the main excretory duct of the submandibular gland in five cases of obstructive sialadenitis was studied by TEM and SEM. In three cases we found a considerable increase in goblet and ciliated cells. As well as normal... more
The epithelium of the main excretory duct of the submandibular gland in five cases of obstructive sialadenitis was studied by TEM and SEM. In three cases we found a considerable increase in goblet and ciliated cells. As well as normal cilia, different kinds of ciliary anomalies, especially compound cilia, were noticed. Images of centriole formation and of ciliogenesis, both normal and abnormal, were also observed. Several hypotheses concerning the mode of formation of the compound cilia are discussed.
Research Interests: Electron Microscopy, Biology, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy, and 12 moreMedicine, Humans, Female, Male, Ultrastructure, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, ultrastructural Pathology, Cilia, and Salivary Gland Diseases
Confirming early findings [76,77,83], histochemical and ultrastructural investigations have shown that the seminal vesicle [4,62,66,68,69], ampulla ductus deferentis [4,5,17,63,67,74], and ejaculatory duct [16,70,71] possess an identical... more
Confirming early findings [76,77,83], histochemical and ultrastructural investigations have shown that the seminal vesicle [4,62,66,68,69], ampulla ductus deferentis [4,5,17,63,67,74], and ejaculatory duct [16,70,71] possess an identical epithelium, consisting of principal (secretory) and basal cells. This represents the lining of the human genital tract from the beginning of the ampulla to the opening of the ejaculatory duct into the prostatic urethra.
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Research Interests: Mass Spectrometry, Biology, Immunohistochemistry, Medicine, Multidisciplinary, and 14 moreFetal development, Humans, PLoS one, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Newborn Infant, High performance, Liquid Chromatography / Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry, Saliva, Mouth, Oral Cavity, Gestational Age, Salivary Gland, Salivary Glands, and chronological age
Olanzapine, introduced as an alternative to clozapine in schizophrenia therapy, is thought to display a receptor affinity similar to that of clozapine. Antipsychotics are well-known xerogenic drugs. However, clozapine exerts both... more
Olanzapine, introduced as an alternative to clozapine in schizophrenia therapy, is thought to display a receptor affinity similar to that of clozapine. Antipsychotics are well-known xerogenic drugs. However, clozapine exerts both antagonistic and agonistic salivary effects ('clozapine-induced sialorrhea'), the latter probably via muscarinic M1 type of receptor. We hypothesise that olanzapine also has dual salivary effects. Effects of intravenous olanzapine were examined in rats, including those subjected to chronic preganglionic parasympathetic denervation (submandibular glands) or combined postganglionic parasympathetic and sympathetic denervation (parotid glands). Secretion was evoked reflexly, and by intravenous methacholine and the tachykinin substance P. At 0.01-1 mg kg(-1), olanzapine dose dependently reduced secretion in response to methacholine or reflex stimulus but not that to substance P. At 10 mg kg(-1), olanzapine evoked a long-lasting secretion, independent of the autonomic innervation as well as of α- and β-adrenergic receptors and muscarinic receptors. The secretion was reduced, but not abolished, by a substance P receptor antagonist. Like clozapine, olanzapine evoked secretion. The response to olanzapine was greater and, in contrast to clozapine, involved non-traditional gland receptors (such as substance P receptors). The findings imply that olanzapine plays an excitatory role via tachykinin receptors in humans.
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Research Interests: Neuroscience, Electron Microscopy, Biology, Immunohistochemistry, Medicine, and 15 moreImmunocytochemistry, Pregnancy, Humans, Female, Astrocyte, Cultures, Neurons, Astrocytes, Phagocytosis, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Biological markers, B Lymphocytes, Fetus, Neurosciences, and Immunocompetence
ABSTRACT A cytochemical study on the localization of the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase was carried out in human ampullary glands. Although the former two enzymes showed a... more
ABSTRACT A cytochemical study on the localization of the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase was carried out in human ampullary glands. Although the former two enzymes showed a marked reactivity, alkaline phosphatase was absent from epithelial cells. On the basis of these results it is concluded that, as in the human seminal vesicle, in the ampullary gland fructose is probably secreted via the oxidative mechanism proposed by Hers (Le Metabolisme du Fructose. Bruxelles, Arscia, 1957).
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Individuals receiving clozapine treatment for schizophrenia complain of drooling. Reports on salivary flow measurements are contradictory in humans and lacking in animals. Clozapine has affinity for several different receptor types and... more
Individuals receiving clozapine treatment for schizophrenia complain of drooling. Reports on salivary flow measurements are contradictory in humans and lacking in animals. Clozapine has affinity for several different receptor types and may, hypothetically, both stimulate and inhibit salivary secretion. In rats, intravenous clozapine evoked a long-lasting secretion, being more prominent from submandibular than from parotid glands. Chronic denervation enhanced the responses. Clozapine acted on muscarinic (M1-) receptors of acinar cells, independent of central nervous mechanisms, pre-synaptic intraglandular events, or circulating catecholamines. A fraction of the methacholine- and parasympathetic-nerve-evoked secretion was abolished by clozapine at doses below those evoking secretion. Sympathetic-nerve-evoked secretion was partially reduced by clozapine, due to antagonistic action on α-adrenoceptors; the β-adrenoceptor-mediated response persisted. Subsecretory doses of clozapine enhanc...
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Updated version (2018) of my lessons notes on History of Western Medicine (seen from Sardinia) from the origins to 2018. The course, for the medical students of the University of Cagliari, had only a total of 12 hours and this... more
Updated version (2018) of my lessons notes on History of Western Medicine (seen from Sardinia) from the origins to 2018.
The course, for the medical students of the University of Cagliari, had only a total of 12 hours and this compelled me to make a number of arbitrary choices in order to give to students a panoramic view of the matter.
The course, for the medical students of the University of Cagliari, had only a total of 12 hours and this compelled me to make a number of arbitrary choices in order to give to students a panoramic view of the matter.
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ABSTRACT. The description of capillaries, that completed Harvey’s discovery, is linked with that of lung and tissue respiration. It is the work of a physician: Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694), a barber surgeon: William Cowper (1666-1723),... more
ABSTRACT. The description of capillaries, that completed Harvey’s discovery, is linked with that of lung and tissue respiration. It is the work of a physician: Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694), a barber surgeon: William Cowper (1666-1723), a naturalist: Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799). Malpighi discovered the blood red corpuscles in man, the capillaries and the lung structure in amphibians (cool-blooded animals). Cowper described capillaries in cats and dogs (warm-blooded animals). Spallanzani, besides having discovered white corpuscles in the tadpole (amphibian), demonstrated in the embryonal circle of the fowl (warm-blooded animal) the direct flow of blood between arterial and venous capillaries. Finally, he showed that the respiration process, consisting of oxygen intake and carbon dioxide ejection, occurs, not only in lungs, but in tissues as well.
The article reports the biography of the Surgeon Luciano Provenzale (1912-1987) of the University of Cagliari, author in the early sixties of the world first pan-colonscopy. For this then highly innovative technique Provenzale has... more
The article reports the biography of the Surgeon Luciano Provenzale (1912-1987) of the University of Cagliari, author in the early sixties of the world first pan-colonscopy. For this then highly innovative technique Provenzale has been the recipient, in 1986 in New York, of the award of the American Society of Endoscopy.
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Biography of SUSINI, Clemente Michelangelo author of La Specola anatomical wax models
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Biography of Clemente Michelangelo Susini (1754-1814) author of La Specola anatomical wax models