General Physiology

General Physiology
Engineering- Quota 150
Research Activity
Dr Migani’s research activities are located in the general field of Neurosciences and particularly in Neurophysiology  and Neurochemistry.
Dr Migani is involved since some years in the study of the movements of neo-formed cells (neuroblasts) by a narrow zone of the mature mammalian brain, close to the cerebral ventricles (subventricular zone SVZ).  Those cells  move normally a long way, following a pre-determined path from the SVZ to the olfactory bulb. Dr Migani researches aim to the identification and study of factors which could promote neuroblasts  movement  and direct them,  which are likely located on the neuroblasts  themselves and in the tissue of the zones they move through. Besides  knowledge increase in Neuroscience, a  second important aim of those researches is the opportunity  to change neuroblasts ‘ direction and destination, to make use of their possible activity for the structural and functional recovery of the damaged nervous tissue, following trauma or neurological disorders. (Click on the images to enlarge)
Migration of neuroblasts in mouse brain, from the subventricular zone (right) to the olfactory bulb (left). Neuroblasts  are displayed by their specific marker PSA-NCAM (red) but also by a component which contributes  to direction finding (ephrin-B1, green). Migration of neuroblasto of mouse brain out of the subventricular zone (bottom). Neuroblasts are marked by PSA-NCAM (red). On the ventricular surface is  located a component (green) which seems to  repel the neuroblasts. Occurrence of neuroblasts (red) in the Substantia nigra pars compacta (SNPC), mixed to big dopainergic neurons (green). Arrows point to possible neo-formed neurons.
Staff
071 220 4515

 

Equipment
- Bench tools for neurochemical and immunohistochemical  tests, including two analytical balances  and  equipments for electrophoresis and western blot.
-General tools for the production of brain histology slices, for the immunochemical  detection  of specific protein components  in cells and their tissue localization.
-Beckman UV-Vis spectrophotometer.
-Beckman  preparative centrifuge and  Beckman ultracentrifuge, equipped  with  fixed angle and swing-out rotors.
-High-resolution  chromatography equipment (HPLC; Beckman), for  identification and purification of low and high molecular mass components from the nervous tissue.
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