Papers by Pierangelo Sardo
Brain Sciences
Pseudoneglect phenomenon refers to a condition in which healthy subjects tend to perceive the lef... more Pseudoneglect phenomenon refers to a condition in which healthy subjects tend to perceive the left side of exactly bisected lines as being slightly longer than the right one. However, behavioural data showed that athletes practising an open-skill sport display less pseudoneglect than the general population. Given the fact that so-called exergames (also known as active video games) are platforms designed to fully mimic sport activity, this work intends to investigate whether and how a one-week training period of exergame open-skill sport can determine a similar decrease in pseudoneglect. Fifteen healthy participants (non-athletes) responded to a visuospatial attention task and a control memory task in basal conditions (t0: Pre-game) and after a short period (one week, one hour/day) of tennis exergaming (t1: Post-game). In the Post-game condition, subjects from this experimental group (ExerGame group: EG) reduced leftward space overestimation and made significantly fewer leftward erro...
Nutrients
Indicaxanthin (IX) from Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI) has been shown to exert numerous biological ef... more Indicaxanthin (IX) from Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI) has been shown to exert numerous biological effects both in vitro and in vivo, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-modulatory activity in rodent models. Our goal was to investigate the eventual neuro-active role of orally assumed fruits containing high levels of IX at nutritionally-relevant amounts in healthy subjects, exploring cortical excitability and plasticity in the human motor cortex (M1). To this purpose, we applied paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) in basal conditions and followed the consumption of yellow cactus pear fruits containing IX or white cactus pear fruits devoid of IX (placebo). Furthermore, resting state-functional MRI (rs-fMRI) preliminary acquisitions were performed before and after consumption of the same number of yellow fruits. Our data revealed that the consumption of IX-containing fruits could specifically activate intracor...
Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Nutrients
Ketogenic Diet is a nutritional pattern often used as dietotherapy in inflammatory diseases, incl... more Ketogenic Diet is a nutritional pattern often used as dietotherapy in inflammatory diseases, including neurological disorders. Applied on epileptic children since 1920, in recent years it has been taken into account again as a tool to both reduce inflammatory burdens and ameliorate the nutritional status of patients affected by different pathologies. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered an immune-mediated neuro-inflammatory disease and diet is a possible factor in its pathogenesis. The aim of this work is to investigate the main potential targets of MS-related impairments, in particular the cognitive deficits, focusing on the alteration of biomarkers such as the Brain Derived-Neurotrophic Factor and the Tryptophan/Kynurenine ratio that could play a role on neuroprotection and thus on MS progression. Furthermore, we here propose nutritional suggestions which are useful in the development of a ketogenic diet protocol that takes advantage of the anti-inflammatory properties of low-car...
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2022
<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Modulatory effects of nitric oxide-acti... more <b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Modulatory effects of nitric oxide-active drugs on the anticonvulsant activity of lamotrigine in an experimental model of partial complex epilepsy in the rat"BMC Neuroscience 2007;8():47-47.Published online 3 Jul 2007PMCID:PMC1950521.10 rats for each treatment). In abscissa the progressive number of train of stimuli applied every 10 min is indicated. Asterisks between lines (-*-) indicate a significant difference between the two treatments (P &lt; 0.05).
The term \u201cneuroactive steroid\u201d refers to steroids that have rapid modulatory effects on... more The term \u201cneuroactive steroid\u201d refers to steroids that have rapid modulatory effects on ligand-gated ion channels via non-genomic mechanism. Specifically, neurosteroids can alter neuronal excitability via the cell surface interacting with specific neurotransmitter receptors. The neurosteroid pregnenolone sulphate (PREGS) has been described as negative modulator of GABAA receptor and positive modulator of NMDA receptor, affecting cognition as well as emotionality. The present study was aimed to assess the effects of the acute administration of PREGS (10 mg/Kg, s. c.) on rats cognitive functions using a novel task, the Can test. This task explores, under reinforcement, the spatial/visual cues of the rats, along four sequential experimental sessions: shaping, spatial acquisition, retention and simple visual task. Our results show that acute treatment with PREGS induced a significant improvement in spatial orientation acquisition and retention (p< 0.001; p< 0.01), and increased the natural exploratory activity of rodents in a simple visual task (p< 0.001)when compared to control. The learning and memory enhancing properties of PREGS seem to be due to the potentiation of the central cholinergic transmission, as shown by electrophysiological recordings in the CA3 hippocampal area and in the perirhinal cortex. These findings provide additional evidence that neuroactive steroids have memory-enhancing properties and may constitute potential therapeutic tools for the treatment of cognitive deficit
The globus pallidus (GP) of rodents, homologous to the external globus pallidus of primates, play... more The globus pallidus (GP) of rodents, homologous to the external globus pallidus of primates, plays a critical role in the expression of basal ganglia (BG) function. Glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs have been demonstrated to greatly modulate the spontaneous GP activity. In this study the effects of local applied NO-active compounds on glutamate (GLU)- and GABA-evoked responses were investigated in rat GP neurons. Extracellularly recorded single units from anesthetized rats were treated with GLU or GABA before and during the microiontophoretic application of S-nitrosoglutathione (SNOG), a NO donor, and N\u3c9-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a NOS inhibitor. Most GP cells were excited by SNOG whereas administration of L-NAME induced decrease of GP neurons activity. Nearly all neurons responding to SNOG and/or L-NAME showed significant modulation of their responses to the administration of iontophoretic GLU or GABA. Generally, increased magnitudes of excitatory GLU-evoked responses were observed during SNOG ejection, whereas the administration of L-NAME decreased responses to GLU; conversely, decreased magnitudes of inhibitory GABA-evoked responses were observed during SNOG ejection, while the GABA effect was reinforced by L-NAME administration. In these cells, the changes induced by NO-active drugs in the magnitude of GLU- or GABA-evoked responses were used as indicators of NO modulation. The results suggest that the NO-active drugs modulate the response of GP neurons to glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission. Nitrergic modulation could play an important role in the control of GP bioelectric activity, not only in normal conditions but also in pathophysiological states
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2020
The process of aging commonly features a gradual deterioration in cognitive performance and, in p... more The process of aging commonly features a gradual deterioration in cognitive performance and, in particular, the decline of memory. Despite the increased longevity of the world's population, the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions, such as dementia, continues to be a major burden on public health, and consequently, the latest research has been focused on memory and aging. Currently, the failure of episodic and Prospective memory (PM) is one of the main complaints in the elderly, considered among the early symptoms of dementia. It is therefore increasingly important to define more clearly the boundaries between normal and pathological aging. Recently, researchers have begun to build and apply Virtual Environments (VE) to the explicit purpose of better understanding the performance of episodic and PM in complex and realistic contexts, with the perspective of further developing effective training procedures that depend on reliable cognitive assessment methods. Virtual technology offers higher levels of realism than "pen and paper" testing and at the same time more experimental control than naturalistic settings. In this mini-review article, we examine the outcomes of recently available studies on virtual reality technology applications developed for the assessment and improvement of episodic and/or PM. To consider the latest technology, we selected 29 articles that have been published in the last 10 years. These documents show that VR-based technologies can provide a valid basis for screening and treatment and, through increased sensory stimulation and enriched environments reproducing the scenarios of everyday life, could represent effective stimulating experiences even in pathological aging.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 2021
Regeneration and recovery of nerve tissues are a great challenge for medicine, and positively aff... more Regeneration and recovery of nerve tissues are a great challenge for medicine, and positively affect the quality of life of patients. The development of tissue engineering offers a new approach to the problem with the creation of multifunctional artificial scaffolds that act on various levels in the damaged tissue, providing physical and biochemical support for the growth of nerve cells. In this study, the effects of the use of a tubular scaffold made of polybutylene succinate (PBS), surgically positioned at the level of a sciatic nerve injured in rat, between the proximal stump and the distal one, was investigated. Scaffolds characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microcomputed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, in vivo. The demonstration of the nerve regeneration was based on the evaluation of electroneurography, measuring the weight of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles, histological examination of regenerated nerves and observing the recovery of the locomotor activity of animals. The PBS tubular scaffold minimized iatrogenic trauma on the nerve, acting as a directional guide for the regenerating fibers by conveying them toward the distal stump. In this context, neurotrophic and neurotropic factors may accumulate and perform their functions, while invasion by macrophages and scar tissue is hampered.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 2020
Extensive researches have deepened knowledge on the role of synaptic components in epileptogenesi... more Extensive researches have deepened knowledge on the role of synaptic components in epileptogenesis, but limited attention has been devoted to the potential implication of the cytoskeleton. The study of the development of epilepsy and hyperexcitability states involves molecular, synaptic, and structural alterations of neuronal bioelectric activity. In this paper we aim to explore the neurobiological targets involved in microtubule functioning and cytoskeletal transport, i.e. how dynamic scaffolding of microtubules can influence neuronal morphology and excitability, in order to suggest a potential role for microtubule dynamics in the processes turning a normal neuronal network in a hyperexcited one. Pathophysiological alterations of microtubule dynamics inducing neurodegeneration, network remodeling and relative impairment on synaptic transmission were overviewed. Recent researches were reported on the phosphorylation state of microtubule-associated proteins such as tau in neurodegene...
Brain Structure and Function, 2019
Endocannabinoid system is considered a relevant player in the regulation of neuronal excitability... more Endocannabinoid system is considered a relevant player in the regulation of neuronal excitability, since it contributes to maintaining the balance of the synaptic ionic milieu. Perturbations to bioelectric conductances have been implicated in the pathophysiological processes leading to hyperexcitability and epileptic seizures. Cannabinoid influence on neurosignalling is exerted on classic receptor-mediated mechanisms or on further molecular targets. Among these, transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) are ionic channels modulated by cannabinoids that are involved in the transduction of a plethora of stimuli and trigger fundamental downstream pathways in the post-synaptic site. In this review, we aim at providing a brief summary of the most recent data about the cross-talk between cannabinoid system and TRPV channels, drawing attention on their role on neuronal hyperexcitability. Then, we aim to unveil a plausible point of interaction between these neural signalling systems taking into consideration nitric oxide, a gaseous molecule inducing profound modifications to neural performances. From this novel perspective, we struggle to propose innovative cellular mechanisms in the regulation of hyperexcitability phenomena, with the goal of exploring plausible CB-related mechanisms underpinning epileptic seizures.
The Journal of Neuroscience, 2003
The striatum is involved in the control of appetitively motivated behavior. We found previously t... more The striatum is involved in the control of appetitively motivated behavior. We found previously that tonically active neurons (TANs) in the monkey striatum show discriminative responses to different stimuli that are appetitive or aversive. However, these differential responses may reflect the sensory qualities of the stimulus rather than its motivational value. In the present study, we sought to define more precisely the relationship between the particular aspect of the response of TANs and the motivational value of stimuli. For this purpose, three monkeys were presented with two types of aversive stimuli (loud sound and air puff) and one appetitive stimulus (fruit juice). In most instances, the TAN responses to the loud sound and the air puff were similar, in terms of response pattern and duration, whereas responses to the liquid reward showed distinct features. Using classical appetitive conditioning, we reversed the motivational value of a stimulus so that a previously aversive s...
Epilepsy research, Dec 1, 2017
Cannabinoids (CB), transient receptors potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and nitric oxide (NO) w... more Cannabinoids (CB), transient receptors potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and nitric oxide (NO) were found to be interlinked in regulating some neuronal functions such as membrane excitability and synaptic transmission. TRPV1 play a fundamental role since it represents a synaptic target for CB that triggers several downstream cellular pathways. In this regard, recent evidence report that TRPV1 could influence NO production by modulating neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) activity. In the present research, we pointed to manipulate nNOS function to assess its role on TRPV1 signalling in hyperexcitability conditions elicited in the dentate gyrus of hippocampal formation. The activation of TRPV1 receptors is achieved by administering capsaicin (CAP), the main TRPV1 agonist exerting a widely reported proepileptic effects. In order to focus on nNOS activity, we used 7-nitroindazole (7NI), nNOS inhibitor, or L-Arginine (ARG), NO precursor, before CAP. Then, the effects of each of these co-adminis...
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Papers by Pierangelo Sardo