Section of Histology and Embryology - Laboratories of Reproductive and Developmental Biology

(Head: Prof. Massimo De Felici – Prof. Antonietta Salustri )

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The laboratory's activities focuses on identifying innovative approaches to promote differentiation, growth and maturation of oocytes and the embryo implantation using the mouse model. The laboratory's goal is to provide new tools to prevent and treat female infertility conditions and to develop screening tests for reprotoxic compounds.
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Area of Activity

• Primordial germ cell (PGC) biology (De Felici, Klinger).
• Oocyte reserve dynamics (Klinger, De Felici).
• Identification of biomarkers of oocyte quality (Camaioni, Salustri).
• Extracellular matrix sieve for sperm selection (Camaioni, Salustri).
• Hormones, growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules improving embryo implantation and pregnancy outcome (Camaioni, Campagnolo, Salustri).
• Placental morphogenesis and associated pathologies (Campagnolo)
• Engineered nanomaterials: safety assessment using in vivo and in vitro models and biomedical applications (Campagnolo).
• Embryonic (ES) and mesenchymal stem (MS) cell biology (Camaioni, Campagnolo, De Felici, Klinger, Salustri).
• Neurotrophins in germ cell development (Russo)

Experimental Techniques

• Isolation and culture of PGCs, ovarian tissues and peri-ovulatory oocytes.
• Gene expression analysis in ovarian and uterine cells and pre-implantation embryos.
• In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, in vitro culture of pre-implantation embryos.
• Culture and manipulation of ES and MS cells.
• Toxicity in vitro testing of compounds (specifically: endocrine disruptors, chemiotherapic agents, nanomaterials) on germ cells, preimplantation embryos and ES cells.
• Cell culture, standard histological techniques, immunolocalization, image analyses, cell transfection, Western blotting, ELISA, RT- and RTq- PCR.

Laboratory facilities

• One room for histological procedures (instruments: microtome, wet bath, hot plate, fume hood, paraffin oven, hazardous solvent cabinet)
• One room for tissues and cell morphological analysis (instruments: 1 inverted and 1 fluorenscence microscopes with cameras, computers)
• Two sterile rooms for cell culture (instruments: incubators, biosafety cabinets, laminar flow hoods, Bunsen burners, stereomicroscopes and microscopes, wet bath, centrifuges, refrigerators and freezers,)
• Four biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories fully equipped for routine techniques
• Three rooms for common instruments (analytical balance, Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers, termocycler for RT-PCR, Real Time PCR machine, freezers, cryostat, spettrophotometer, ELISA Reader, Luminometer, Sonicator, Cytofuorimeter, Speedvac, bacterial shaker)
• One Dark room for film develop
• One Cold room (shaker, centrifuge)
• One Stock room

Staff:
Prof. Antonella Camaioni
Prof. Mario Antonio Russo
Dr. Luisa Campagnolo
Dr. Donatella Farini
Dr. Francesca Gioia Klinger
Technician Gabriele Rossi
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