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Biomedical subjects

A Lauria

Publications and source records attributed to A Lauria.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with volvulus of the transverse colon. The identical mode of clinical presentation and of the intestinal manometric pattern in monozygotic twins].

Two monozygotic female twins with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated with transverse colon volvulus are described. Quite similar clinical events and temporal coincidences characterized the symptoms which has preceded and followed right colectomy undergone by both of them due to intestinal volvulus. The esophageal, gastroduodenal, colonic and anorectal manometric investigation revealed very similar alterations in both girls. Increased amplitude of distal contractions of the esophagus, a depressed fasting antro-duodenal motility, with absence into antrum and oro-aboral non-propagation in the duodenum of the phase III activity of the interdigestive motor complex were the main findings along with a state of pronounced colonic hypomotility and an hypoesthesia of the rectal ampulla to the volumetric stimulus. This report indicates the association between chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and transverse colon volvulus in monozygotic female twins, and it points out the rarity both of the specific symptomatic coincidences and the similar clinical events and of the almost absolute identity of the intestinal motor patterns.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Similarity of an oviduct-specific glycoprotein between different species.

The oviduct provides the best environment in which a zygote can grow and it can also support the development of embryos from a different species. However, there is no clear explanation of its embryotrophic properties at present. In several species, oviduct epithelial cells synthesize and secrete glycosylated proteins that become associated with developing embryos. Although these macromolecules may have a functional role at the time of fertilization and early embryonic development, the nature of such a role remains to be elucidated. The aim of this work was to perform a comparative analysis of oviduct-specific glycoproteins in search of molecules common to different species since their phylogenetic conservation would imply biological significance. In previous studies, sheep oviduct-specific proteins were characterized and a monoclonal antibody (AFRC MAC 264) specific for the sheep oviduct protein 92 (sOP 92) was produced; hence, sheep was taken as the reference species. The degree of similarity between sheep glycoproteins and those of the cow, goat, pig, rabbit and mouse was determined on the basis of: the presence of carbohydrate side-chains, cross-reactivity with AFRC MAC 264, correspondence of molecular weight between cross-reacting molecules, and similarity of immunohistochemical localization. On this basis, proteins similar to sOP 92 were present in cow and goat oviduct. A more limited similarity was also observed in pigs. This indicates a certain degree of phylogenetic conservation and suggests that these molecules may play an important physiological role; however, their function remains to be determined.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Follicle somatic cells influence pig oocyte penetrability and cortical granule distribution.

The influence of somatic cells on oocyte penetrability was studied during in vitro maturation. Four experiments were carried out. In the first, pig oocytes were fertilized in vitro immediately after collection (immature oocytes) or after being cultured for 44 hr with cumulus cells connected to the whole wall of the extroverted follicle (follicle oocytes) or without cumulus cells (denuded oocytes) (Mattioli et al.: Gamete Res 20:177-183, 1988a). In follicle and immature oocytes, 12 hr after insemination, the sperm were equally distributed between zona and ooplasm; in denuded oocytes, the majority (90.5%) of the sperm were located in the zona. In the second experiment, zonae pellucidae of follicle and denuded oocytes, obtained after 44 hr of culture, were incubated with a sperm suspension for 2 hr at 39 degrees C to evaluate the zona binding. The different number of sperm found on the zona pellucida of follicle or denuded oocytes (49.3 +/- 2.97 vs. 37.8 +/- 1.77) did not achieve statistical significance (P greater than 0.05). In the third experiment, follicle and denuded oocytes were denuded of their zonae after maturation and then fertilized in vitro. The number of sperm recorded in the ooplasm of zona-free follicle oocytes was significantly higher than that recorded in zona-free denuded oocytes (9.2 +/- 0.93 vs 1.19 +/- 0.28) (P less than 0.01). In the last experiment the influence of somatic cells on the distribution of cortical granules was evaluated. Pig oocytes were denuded at different stages of culture and, after completion of maturation, processed for electron microscopy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Oviduct ampullary epithelium contributes a glycoprotein to the zona pellucida, perivitelline space and blastomeres membrane of sheep embryos.

Previous studies have identified a glycoprotein (sOP 92) that is secreted by sheep oviductal epithelium and subsequently becomes associated with developing embryos. The objective of this study was to more definitively demonstrate the localization of this protein in the oviductal epithelium of cycling ewes and in the embryos (developmental stage ranging between 1 and 8 cells) by using the light and electron microscopic immuno-gold techniques. In the oviduct, sOP 92 was present only in nonciliated cells of the ampulla but not in the isthmus. No major differences in signal intensity, in its organ or intracellular distribution were observed between the postovulatory and the luteal phase of the cycle. At the embryonic level, sOP 92 uniformly covered the surface of the zona pellucida and permeated its width. Moreover, the protein was present in the perivitelline space and on the blastomeres membrane but not in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus. These observations suggest that a marked regional difference in sheep oviduct secretions exists and confirm that there is a close association of these secretions with the developing embryos.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Changes in the organization of the extracellular matrix in ovarian follicles during the preovulatory phase and atresia. An immunofluorescence study.

The distribution of laminin, type IV collagen and fibronectin was studied by immunofluorescence in rat, pig and cow ovarian follicles. The results obtained in the three species investigated were similar. In all the follicles, laminin and type IV collagen were identically localized in the basal lamina (BL) separating the granulosa and the theca layers. In addition, these two proteins were also distributed in the wall of blood vessels of the thecae and ovarian stroma. The staining showed that the BL of primordial and growing follicles was regular and continuous, but underwent striking modifications during ovulation and atresia. In fact, in preovulatory follicles the BL appeared thinner and discontinuous, whereas it was much thickened and ruptured in atretic follicles. Fibronectin was localized mainly in inner granulosa cells of small and medium-sized growing follicles, and as a broad and irregular layer around the cavity of the degenerated follicles. The results show that each stage of follicular growth and involution is associated with a precise and peculiar pattern of distribution of laminin, type IV collagen and fibronectin. The possibility that these proteins play a role in the local control of ovarian follicular dynamics is advanced.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Improved method to induce superovulation in cattle using Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HMG).

In a previous preliminary study, HMG (Pergonal 500 -Serono Italy) was favourably used to induce superovulation in heifers. In the present work, the results of further clinical and endocrinological investigations using another treatment schedule are reported. Both friesian heifers and lactating friesian cows, starting from the 9th-11th day of the cycle, received i.m. two ampoules of Pergonal 500 (75 i.u. FSH and 75 i.u. LH per ampoule) at 0, 12, 24, 36 hours and one ampoule at 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 and 108 hours. At the 72nd hour, all donors received 2 ml of Estrumate (I.C.I.) and, at estrus, 1000 i.u. of HCG (Profasi, Serono) 24 hours apart. Both clinical and endocrinological results showed that all animals responded well to the superovulatory stimulus. No donor gave less than two transferable embryos. The mean number of ovulations (11.66 and 10.36 for heifers and cows respectively), the low individual variability, the low number of persistent follicles, the rate of transferable embryos (67%) and the rapid spontaneous restoration of estrous cycles show that the schedule adopted induced satisfactory superovulation of both heifers and cows in embryo transfer practice.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Clinical and endocrinological investigations on superovulation induced in heifers by human menopausal gonadotrophin.

After an i.v. injection of human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG), three components of the disappearance time in heifers were found for immunoreactive LH (half-life 13.8--1020 min) and immunoreactive FSH (half-life 21.3--1090 min). When heifers were treated daily with hMG from Days 9, 10 or 11 of the cycle for 3 or 5 days, a total dose of 1350 i.u. FSH induced 10.2 +/- 2.5 (mean +/- s.d.) corpora lutea (CL) in 6 animals and 13 persistent follicles in 4 animals, while a total dose of 2100 i.u. FSH induced 14.3 +/- 1.5 CL in 6 heifers and there were no persistent follicles. Nine heifers treated with a single i.m. injection of 1500 i.u. PMSG exhibited 11.4 +/- 8.6 CL with 17 persistent follicles in 7 animals. Progesterone concentrations rose significantly faster and the oestradiol drop was more rapid after oestrus in heifers treated with hMG than in those treated with PMSG. These results demonstrate that stimulation of the ovarian follicles of heifers is more homogeneous when hMG is used.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Effect of the inhibin-like factor from bull spermatozoa on sexual maturation of the male rat.

The s.c. administration for 25 days of the inhibin-like factor extracted from bull spermatozoa to immature 20-day-old male rats reduced serum FSH levels by about 60% and serum LH and testosterone levels by about 50%. However, neither tubular nor interstitial modifications of the histological appearance of the testis were found and there were no changes in the activity of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The assay described could be usefully employed for evaluating the activities of inhibin-like factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity and sexual dimorphism in rat exorbital lacrimal gland.

Leucine amonopeptidase (LAP) activity was histochemically studied in the rat exorbital lacrimal gland. The enzyme is present in the secreting cells of both male and female prepuberal rats, in vivo and in monolayer cultures, while in the adult rat it is demonstrable only in the female. Furthermore, LAP is influenced by the sex hormones, disappearing in the female gland after testosterone treatment and appearing in the adult male gland after administration of estradiol or cyproterone acetate. These results show that the behaviour of LAP can be considered as another character of sexual dimorphism of the rat exorbital gland. Furthermore, our findings, showing an inverse relationship between LAP activity and the PAS positivity of the secretion products, suggest the hypothesis that the presence of this exopeptidase could induce qualitative modifications of one or more secreted glycoprotein.

Aging↗
PubMed1979

Behavior of ovarian and testicular interstitial cells during ontogenesis in the horse. Morphological and histochemical studies "in vivo" and "in vitro".

The results of a study on interstitial cells of the horse gonads from foetal life to puberty are reported. The morphological (also ultrastructural) histochemical, histophysical and histoenzymological findings both in the organ and in monolayer cultures, clarify the problem of the ontogenesis of these cells showing that: --foetal interstitial cells give origin to "xanthochrome" cells; --"xanthochrome" cells in the prepuberal gonad are continuously renewed; --the same type of cells which in th prepuberal period undergo lipochromic degeneration, differentiate at puberty into Leydig cells in the testis and probably into thecal cells in the ovary.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of 2-triazenothiophenes.

A series of 2-triazenothiophene derivatives was prepared and tested to evaluate their biological activity. Two compounds inhibited the proliferation of leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumor-derived cell lines at micromolar concentrations, whereas none of the compounds were active against HIV-1. Compound 3c inhibited DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, and was also effective against KB cells resistant to etoposide and vincristine. The compounds were inactive against fungi and bacteria.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytoplasmic changes and developmental competence of bovine oocytes cryopreserved without cumulus cells.

The cryopreservation of female gametes is still an open problem because of their structural sensitivity to the cooling-and-freezing process and to the exposure to cryoprotectants. The present work was aimed to study the effect of vitrification on immature bovine oocytes freed of cumulus cell investment before freezing. To verify the feasibility and efficiency of denuded oocyte (DO) cryopreservation, the cytoplasmic alterations eventually induced either by cell removal or by the vitrification process were analyzed. In particular, the migration of cortical granules and Ca++ localization were studied. In addition, the localization and distribution of microtubules and microfilaments in immature fresh and vitrified DOs were evaluated. Finally, to establish whether the removal of cumulus cells influenced developmental competence, DOs were thawed after vitrification, matured in vitro and fertilized; then presumptive zygotes were cultured to reach the blastocyst stage. The results indicate that mechanical removal of cumulus cells from immature bovine oocytes does not affect their maturation competence but reduces the blastocyst rate when compared with intact cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs). The findings indicate further that the vitrification process induces changes of cytoplasmic components. However, the composition of the manipulation medium used to remove cumulus cells plays a crucial role in reducing the injuries caused by cryopreservation in both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments. In fact, the presence of serum exerts a sort of protection, significantly improving both oocyte maturation and blastocyst rates. In conclusion, we demonstrate that denuded immature oocytes can be vitrified after cumulus cells removal and successfully develop up, after thawing, to the blastocyst stage, following in vitro maturation and fertilization.

Animals↗