Unit of Comparative cellular biology
Lab of Citochimica ed Immunoistochimica
tel. ++39 051 2094143
fax ++39 051 2094286
Group Leader: Prof. Valeria Franceschini
E-mail : valeria.franceschini@unibo.it
Research in progress :
- to study the expression of membrane glycoconjugates, identified by lectin and antibody binding, in the olfactory neurons and their central projections to the olfactory bulb in an attempt to better understand the phylogeny of the vertebrate olfactory system. The presence and the different distribution of a specific glycoconjugate may be related to the interactions between odor molecules and olfactory receptors, or, more probably, to the control of cell-to-cell interactions. In fact, vertebrate olfactory receptor neurons display a unique characteristic: they continuously undergo a cycle of proliferation from stem cells followed by cell death, both during development and in adult animals.
- to investigate the structural and spatial organisation of brain vessels and the distribution of the glial intermediate filament molecular markers, GFAP and vimentin, in the brain and spinal cord of Vertebrates.
- to analyse the type and potential role of the extracellular matrix, in terms of proteins and glycoconjugates produced in the surrounding microenvironment, by Rhesus monkey stem cells in prolonged culture.
Funding :
University of Bologna 1999 "Progetto pluriennale di Ateneo: Segnali molecolari nel differenziamento cellulare"
University of Bologna, 2003 "Progetto pluriennale di Ateneo: Meccanismi e segnali molecolari nella sopravvivenza cellulare"
Patents :
-
Selected Publications :
- Lazzari M, Franceschini V. (2004) Glial Fibrillary Acidic protein and vimentin immunoreactivity of astroglial cells in the Central Nervous System of the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (Dipnoi: Lepidosirenidae) J Morphol. 262: 741-749.
- Michelini M , Franceschini V, Chen SS, Papini S, Rosellini A, Ciani F, Margolis L , RevoltellaRP. (2004) Embryonic stem cells create their own niche while differentiating in a three dimensional culture system. Stem Cell in press
- Lazzari M, Franceschini V. (2003) Microvascular architecture in the central nervous system of Ambystoma mexicanum (Caudata: Ambystomatidae). A light, transmission and scanning electron miscoscopy study: Belgian J. Zool. 133: 127-134.
- Franceschini V, Lazzari M, Ciani F. (2003) Surface glycoconjugates in the olfactory system of Ambystoma mexicanum. J. Morphol. 256: 301-305.
- Lazzari M, Franceschini V. (2001) . Glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin immunoreactivity of astroglial cells in the central nervous system of adult Podarcis sicula (Squamata, Lacertidae). J. Anat. 198: 67-75.
- Franceschini V, Lazzari M, Ciani F. (2001) Lectin-binding patterns in the olfactory system of lizard, Physignathus lesueurii. J. Morphol. 247: 34-38.
- Lazzari M, Franceschini V. (2000) Structural and spatial organisation of brain parenchymal vessels in the lizard, Podarcis sicula: a light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy study. J. Anat. 197: 167-175.
- Franceschini V, Lazzari M, Ciani F. (2000) Lectin cytochemical localisation of glycoconjugates in the olfactory system of the lizards Lacerta viridis and Podarcis sicula. Anat. Embryol. 202: 49-54.
- Franceschini V, Lazzari M, Ciani F. (2000) Cell surface glycoconjugates in the olfactory system of lungfish Protopterus annectens Owen. Acta Zool. 81: 131-139.
- Franceschini V, Lazzari M, Ciani F. (1999) Lectin characterization of the olfactory system in brachiopterygian fishes. Int. J. Devl. Neuroscience, 17: 31-36.
Postgraduate training :
-
Collaborations :
-Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Immunobiology and Cell Differentiation, CNR, Pisa, Italy
Links :
-
-
Research group :
Maurizio Lazzari (Research Associate)
Simone Bettini (PhD student)
Valeria Franceschini (Full Professor)
Franco Ciani (Full Professor)
