Biomedical subjects

N Zini

Publications and source records attributed to N Zini.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

Cytochemical localization of DNA loop attachment sites to the nuclear lamina and to the inner nuclear matrix.

The rat liver nuclear matrix, obtained by endogenous nuclease digestion and extraction with low and high ionic strength media, contains residual DNA fragments that are considered to represent the attachment sites of the chromatin domains to the nucleoskeleton. These sites, protected against nuclease digestion by their binding with the nucleoskeleton proteins, should be either mainly linked to the peripheral lamina or to the inner nuclear matrix. The DNA fragment distribution at the level of the different components of the nuclear matrix has been evaluated in samples embedded in Epon and in hydrophilic resins by means of the DNase-gold technique. The labeling obtained suggests that the chromatin loops are prevailingly associated with the interior of the matrix; in fact about twice of the label is present in the inner matrix with respect to the peripheral lamina area. These results confirm the hypothesis that in interphase the chromatin maintains an organization similar to that of chromosomes, with loops radiating from a central scaffold, instead of being mainly attached to the lamina as otherwise suggested.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Phospholipase C digestion induces the removal of nuclear RNA: a cytochemical quantitative study.

It has been reported that the incubation of isolated rat liver nuclear matrices with phospholipase C causes the digestion of the matrix-bound phospholipids and the release of most matrix-linked RNAs (Cocco et al., 1980). In this paper, the presence of phospholipids in nuclear substructures and the effects of their removal by phospholipase C digestion have been investigated by means of enzyme-colloidal gold cytochemistry. The nuclear phospholipids appear to be localized in the interchromatin areas and in the nucleolus and are virtually absent in the heterochromatin, when labelled with phospholipase C-colloidal gold. The double labelling test with ribonuclease A and phospholipase C conjugated with gold particles of different diameters shows that the nuclear phospholipids are co-localized with RNA-containing structures. The enzymatic digestion of phospholipids on thin sections of either isolated nuclei or pancreas embedded in LR White resin results in the decrease of the RNase-A colloidal gold labelling of nuclear RNA-containing structures, but not of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The data confirm the presence of phospholipids in the nucleus in the absence of possible translocation due to isolation procedures and strengthen the hypothesis that they are involved in interactions between nucleic acids and proteins of the nuclear matrix.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Modifications of the chromatin arrangement induced by ethidium bromide in isolated nuclei, analyzed by electron microscopy and flow cytometry.

Ethidium bromide (EB) is widely used for investigating the DNA conformation in chromatin both with conventional and cytofluorimetric techniques. Since the interaction of the dye with DNA should result in structural deformations which can be different in isolated or in situ chromatin, a study has been performed on the effects caused by different amounts of EB and the analogous propidium iodide on isolated nuclei, in which chromatin maintains its native relationships with the other nuclear structures (envelope, nucleolus, interchromatin RNP, nuclear matrix). The results obtained by comparing ultrastructural observations in thin sections and in freeze-fracturing with conformational analysis in multiparameter flow cytometry indicate that the phenanthridinic fluorochromes, especially at the high concentrations used for cytofluorimetric analyses, cause deep rearrangements of the chromatin in situ. These effects consist both in aggregation and condensation of the fibers into the dense chromatin domains, and in an increase of the supernucleosomal configuration associated with an enlargement of interchromatin spaces in which the RNP particles appear particularly evident. These results, discussed with those available on isolated chromatin, suggest that any unwinding effect of the intercalating dyes on the DNA cause a general condensation of chromatin as a consequence of the constraints which characterize the organization of the chromatin inside the nucleus.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Electron microscopy microsampling of isolated nuclei sorted by flow cytometry.

This paper describes an efficient method to concentrate for electron microscopic examination minute quantities of subcellular particles obtained by cytofluorimetric sorting. The advantages of this micromethod, based on diafiltration on Millipore filters under constant positive nitrogen pressure, are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Ultrastructural organization of freeze-fractured interphase nuclei.

The morphology of intact or membrane-deprived interphase nuclei has been analysed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. This method appears particularly useful for providing information on the distribution and organisation of chromatin and ribonucleoproteins in the absence of dehydration and embedding artifacts of conventional electron microscope techniques which, among other effects, appear to affect heterochromatin distribution, inducing its aggregation along the nuclear envelope. The main levels of chromatin superstructure, from nucleosome to solenoid fibres, are detectable in the replicas of freeze-fractured nuclei on the basis of the size of their shadow, a parameter particularly suitable for automated image analyses.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Uptake of tritiated phosphatidylcholine by isolated rat liver nuclei studied by electron microscope autoradiography in albumin embedded specimens.

The transfer of phosphatidylcholine from multilamellar vesicles to isolated rat liver nuclei was studied by means of electron microscope autoradiography. To avoid the possible loss or the artifactual redistribution of the phospholipid occurring during dehydration with organic solvents and plastic embedding, the fixed specimens were embedded in aqueous albumin, which was then hardened by glutaraldehyde and dehydrated physically. The quantitative analyses of the autoradiograms demonstrated that part of the labelled phosphatidylcholine was taken up by the isolated nuclei and was transferred inside the nucleoplasm. The uptake corresponded to the loss of the vesicular arrangement, probably owing to the formation of a lipoprotein complex with the nuclear proteins. The results provide evidence that the lipid-induced changes of transcriptional activity occur upon the actual interaction of the exogenous phospholipid with the inner nuclear components.

Albumins↗

PubMed1983

Immunohistochemical staining on hydroxyethyl-methacrylate-embedded tissues.

Hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (GMA) embedding has recently been proposed for light microscopy studies. In the present investigation extracellular protein antigens were localized on GMA-embedded renal biopsy tissue. Conventionally frozen sections were compared with GMA sections from 55 renal specimens for the detection of extracellular protein antigens. Sections were directly stained with fluorescein- or peroxidase-conjugated antisera against immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, IgM, C3, C1q, and fibrinogen. Results obtained using these two methods showed a 74-89% agreement, depending on the antigen under study. Some discrepancy between GMA and frozen sections was observed in three cases of renal amyloidosis and those cases presenting focal or trace reactions; the differences did not, however, influence the diagnosis. Prerequisites for antigen recovery on GMA sections were a) choice of fixative; b) abrupt dehydration of specimens; and c) treatment of sections with nonspecific protease. The improved localization and the lower background staining obtained led to easy and immediate detection of antigens on GMA sections despite the reduced antigenicity due to the embedding process.

Acrylates↗

PubMed1983

The presence of J chain in mesangial immune deposits of IgA nephropathy.

In order to identify polymeric IgA in the mesangial IgA deposits of 33 patients, the presence of J chains by a PAP method was investigated. In 9/27 cases of primary IgA nephropathy (PIgANP) and in 4/4 cases of Henoch-Schönlein glomerulonephritis (HSGN) J chains were absent. The remaining cases, two of them with IgA glomerulonephritis associated with alcoholic cirrhosis (ACIgAGN), were J-positive. The two groups, PIgANP J-positive and PIgANP J-negative, were compared according to clinical features. The only difference detected was the time length between the disease onset and the renal biopsy, being shorter in the negative group.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hyaluronan-based biomaterial (Hyaff-11) as scaffold to support mineralization of bone marrow stromal cells.

Various techniques are widely used to repair bone defects, association of hyaluronan-based biodegradable polymers (Hyaff-11) with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) promises to provide successful cell scaffolds for tissue-engineered repair of bone tissue. We evaluate in vitro and in vivo the potential of Hyaff-11 to facilitate mineralization of BMSC. Rat BMSC were seeded on Hyaff-11 and their differentiation were assessed at different time points. Osteogenic differentiation was investigated in vitro analysing the expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin. Mineralization of bone defects was evaluated also in vivo implanting Hyaff-11 scaffold combined with BMSC in large segmental radius defects. In vitro, we found a decrease expression of alkaline phosphatase and an increase of osteocalcin. In vivo, our data showed that mineralization was induced and basic fibroblast growth factor contributed to this process. These results provide a demonstration to therapeutic potential of Hyaff-11 as appropriate carrier vehicle for differentiation and mineralization of BMSC and for the repair of bone defects.

Animals↗