Immunolocalization of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRF-R2) in the developing gut of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.).

Our previous data indicated an important role for adrenocorticotropic (ACTH)-like molecules co-operating with macrophages to control the modifications in body homeostasis during the first period of the life of sea bass (up to 30 days post-hatching) before the lymphoid cells have reached complete maturation. The aim of the study was to determine the immunolocalization of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which is a very important mediator of stress-related responses. Our data showed that immunostaining for CRF is localized already at 8 days after hatching in nerve fibers of the gastrointestinal tract wall from the pharynx to the anterior gut, when the larvae are still feeding on yolk.

Toxicity of antimony trioxide nanoparticles on human hematopoietic progenitor cells and comparison to cell lines.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are materials with one dimension in the range of 1-100 nm. The toxicity of NPs remains widely unknown and still poses concerns, due to the peculiar characteristics of materials in the nano-size range. We analyze the toxicity of seven NPs ((Fe2O3, Fe3O4, Sb2O3, Au, TiO2, Co, and Ag) on primary cultures of human hematopoietic progenitor cells from the bone marrow of healthy donors with CFU assays, and show that antimony oxide (Sb2O3) NPs and cobalt (Co) NPs have a toxic effect, while the other NPs have no effect at the tested concentrations (5, 25 and 100 microg/ml).

Investigation of the presence of inorganic micro- and nanosized contaminants in bread and biscuits by environmental scanning electron microscopy.

A European project called "Nanopathology" allowed to develop a new diagnostic tool through which the presence of inorganic particulate matter in pathological human tissues of the digestive tract could be shown. This unexpected evidence induced the authors to put forward the hypothesis that that sort of contamination was present in ingested food. In order to demonstrate this hypothesis, 86 samples of wheat bread and 49 of wheat biscuits from 14 different countries were analyzed by means of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy to detect inorganic, micro-, and nano-scaled contaminants.

ESEM evaluations of muscle/nanoparticles interface in a rat model.

In order to examine the influence that shape and chemistry of different materials have on the incitement of a tissue reaction, we implanted five materials (the two metals Ni and Co, the two ceramics TiO2 and SiO2, and the polymer poly vinyl-chloride) as nanoparticles or bulk, in the dorsal muscles of 50 rats. After 6 or 12 months, rats were euthanized and the implanted materials were excised together with the surrounding tissue. After a first histological evaluation, the specimens were prepared for environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and for energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), in order to analyse the chemical composition of the implanted material after the biological interaction had occurred, and to evaluate the possible corrosion and diffusion of the materials at tissue interface.

Occurrence of ACTH- and enkephalin-like peptides in the developing gut of Dicentrarchus labrax L.

We carried out immunohistochemical tests in the developing gut of the sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax to follow the appearance and distribution of the immunoreactivity (IR) to antibodies against POMC-derived, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and beta-endorphin (beta-End), and against two enkephalins, with the aim to study a possible involvement of these molecules in the early neuro-immune-endocrine integration. Our data show that IR to antibodies against some molecules involved in the stress response, such as ACTH and enkephalins, are present in the sea bass gut from an early larval stage (4 days after hatching), before transition to the exotrophic feeding. Moreover, the present study demonstrates for the first time the presence of ACTH-like immunoreactive material in developing gut of a fish.

Xanthophore migration from the dermis to the epidermis and dermal remodeling during Salamandra salamandra salamandra (L.) larval development.

During larval development of Salamandra salamandra salamandra chromatophores organize to form the definitive pigment pattern constituted by a black background with yellow patches that are characterized by epidermal xanthophores and dermal iridophores. Simultaneously the dermis undergoes remodeling from the larval stage to that typical of the adult. In the present study we ultrastucturally and immunocytochemically examined skin fragments of S.