Quantification of neurons in the olfactory bulb of the catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) and Galeus melastomus (Rafinesque, 1810).

In vertebrates, the olfactory bulb (OB) is the zone of the brain devoted to receiving the olfactory stimuli. The size of the OB relative to the size of the brain has been positively correlated to a good olfactory capability but, recently, this correlation was questioned after new investigation techniques were developed. Among them, the isotropic fractionator allows to estimate the number of neurons and non-neurons in a given portion of nervous tissue.

First identification of a fatal fungal infection of the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis by Aspergillus tubingensis.

Sponges are considered promising sources of biomolecules for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic interests as well as for the production of biomaterials suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Accordingly, the ability to grow sponges in captivity and in healthy conditions to increase their biomass is a required goal for the development of sponge aquaculture systems. To date, little information is available about the pathogenicity of fungi associated with sponges.

Insights into the evolution of metazoan regenerative mechanisms: roles of TGF superfamily members in tissue regeneration of the marine sponge .

Tissue repair is an adaptive and widespread metazoan response. It is characterised by different cellular mechanisms and complex signalling networks that involve numerous growth factors and cytokines. In higher animals, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling plays a fundamental role in wound healing.

Simulated microgravity induces nuclear translocation of Bax and BCL-2 in glial cultured C6 cells.

Alterations in the control of apoptotic processes were observed in cells during space flight or under simulated microgravity, the latter obtained with the 3D-Random Positioning Machine (3D-RPM). Usually the proteins Bax and Bcl-2, act as pro- or anti-apoptotic regulators. Here we investigated the effects of simulated microgravity obtained by the 3D-RPM on cell viability, localization and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in cultures of glial cancerous cells.