Industrial Research and Technology Transfer Laboratory accredited by Emilia Romagna Region (DGR 1213/2007) with Deliberation n.GPG/2012/119 of February 6, 2012.
Industrial Research and Technology Transfer Laboratory accredited by Emilia Romagna Region (DGR 1213/2007) with Deliberation n.GPG/2012/119 of February 6, 2012.
The Animal Facility research group has many years of expertise in the field of pre-clinical biomedical research on mouse and rat animal models (our numerous publications in international scientific journals are listed in the Publications section), particularly for neurodegenerative diseases. Our technical and scientific expertise can help design studies aimed at evaluating the effects of various advanced treatments (molecules, cells). These studies may be conducted ex vivo (in primary cultures) and/or in vivo (after treatment using various administration routes - i.p., i.v. or i.c.v.).
We carry out studies on gene and protein expression, and evaluation of cell proliferation and death. Moreover, our unit has technical and scientific expertise in in vivo brain microdialysis. In neurodegenerative disease research, microdialysis offers the possibility of evaluating the neurochemical counterpart of various behaviour patterns secondary to an illness or drug treatment. In particular, this technique allows evaluating the levels of extracellular neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate and GABA) and other endogenous compounds in specific brain areas.
Our unit currently comprises the housing room and some laboratories of the Pharmacology department where we are able to conduct projects involving a limited number of animals (rats and mice). One of the laboratories is used for in vivo models, with two stereotaxic units for brain surgery procedures; the other laboratory has microtome and cryostat equipment for cutting histological sections which are used for all the colorimetric, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays, cell degeneration assays, and in situ hybridisation for detecting levels of expression of specific mRNAs. After histological sections have been viewed under the microscope, the images can be analysed. We also have a laboratory equipped for performing implantation surgery of brain dialysis probes (mice and rats) and for obtaining samples from freely-moving animals; a further laboratory is used for assaying neurotransmitters and/or substances derived from brain dialysate.
The primary purpose of the Animal Facility service is to support companies and research institutions by having available an area for raising and caring for small animals (rodents such as rats, mice and guinea pigs, even rabbits), in order to offer suitably equipped laboratories to perform the surgical procedures necessary for preparing animal models of disease, and for in vitro and/or in vivo preclinical experiments. In particular, the research objectives are geared towards numerous problems in the neurological, cardiovascular and haemato-oncological fields in collaboration with other services of the LTTA. The Animal Facility is a valuable resource for researchers engaged in various types of projects involving animal models, especially in studies that involve the use of genetically modified animals.
In the field of advanced therapies, the in vivo preclinical studies stage is of fundamental importance. This is how the Animal Facility came about, to house, look after and rear laboratory animals for experimental purposes, in premises designed and built to the highest standards.
The service currently uses some laboratories in the Pharmacology section, and is involved in evaluating the therapeutic and cellular effects of drug treatments in animal models of disease, using a number of different methods of administration (intraperitoneal, intravenous, intracerebroventricular) and in primary ex vivo cultures, offering the evaluation of different parameters such as:
Special instruments will be placed in the Animal Facility, which will be designed and constructed to the highest standards for research to ensure the animals’ welfare.
The instruments (currently in the Pharmacology laboratories) used for carrying out work relating to the use of animal models and preclinical study into the efficacy of specific advanced therapies are the following:
Animal Facility
Laboratorio centralizzato di ricerca preclinica (LARP)
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
via Fossato di Mortara 27 - 44121 Ferrara
Prof. Michele Simonato
michele.simonato@unife.it
+39 0532 455856
Dr Silvia Zucchini (Ph.D.)
silvia.zucchini@unife.it
+39 0532 455855
Prof. Luca Nicola Ferraro
Prof. Peggy Marconi
Prof. Matteo Marti
Dr Chiara Ruzza
The work of our staff includes:
The members of staff keep up to date with the latest scientific and technical developments, to ensure they are able to provide the highest quality service.
| Beggiato S, Cassano T, Ferraro L, Tomasini MC. Astrocytic palmitoylethanolamide pre-exposure exerts neuroprotective effects in astrocyte-neuron co-cultures from a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimers disease. Life Sci. 2020 Sep 15;257:118037. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118037. PubMed |
| Romero-Fernandez W, Zhou Z, Beggiato S, Wydra K, Filip M, Tanganelli S, Borroto-Escuela DO, Ferraro L, Fuxe K. Acute cocaine treatment enhances the antagonistic allosteric adenosine A2A-dopamine D2 receptor-receptor interactions in rat dorsal striatum without increasing significantly extracellular dopamine levels. Pharmacol Rep. 2020 Apr;72(2):332-339. doi: 10.1007/s43440-020-00069-3. PubMed |
| de Oliveira Junior ER, Truzzi E, Ferraro L, Fogagnolo M, Pavan B, Beggiato S, Rustichelli C, Maretti E, Lima EM, Leo E, Dalpiaz A. Nasal administration of nanoencapsulated geraniol/ursodeoxycholic acid conjugate: Towards a new approach for the management of Parkinson's disease. J Control Release. 2020 May10; 321:540-552. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.02.033. PubMed |
| Beggiato S, Tomasini MC, Cassano T, Ferraro L. Chronic Oral Palmitoylethanolamide Administration Rescues Cognitive Deficit and Reduces Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Glutamate Levels in A Transgenic Murine Model of Alzheimers Disease. J Clin Med. 2020 Feb 5;9(2):428. doi: 10.3390/jcm9020428. PubMed |
| Pacifico S, Ferrari F, Albanese V, Marzola E, Azevedo Neto J, Ruzza C, Calo G, Preti D, & Guerrini R. (2020). Biased agonism at nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors: a structure activity study on N/OFQ (1-13)-NH2. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02057. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02057 |
| Azevedo Neto J, Costanzini A, De Giorgio R, Lambert DG, Ruzza C, & Calò G (2020). Biased versus Partial Agonism in the Search for Safer Opioid Analgesics. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 25(17), E3870. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25173870 |
| Asth L, Tiago PRF, Costa LRF, et al. Effects of non-peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor ligands on methylphenidate-induced hyperactivity in mice: Implications for bipolar disorders. Neuropeptides. 2020;82:102059. doi:10.1016/j.npep.2020.102059 |
| Ferrari F, Rizzo S, Ruzza C, & Calo G (2020). Detailed In Vitro Pharmacological Characterization of the Clinically Viable Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Peptide Receptor Antagonist BTRX-246040. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 373(1), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.119.262865 |
| Ingusci S, Verlengia G, Soukupova M, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Gene Therapy Tools for Brain Diseases. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Jul 1;10:724. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00724. eCollection 2019. PubMed |
| Ingusci S, Cattaneo S, Verlengia G, Zucchini S, Simonato M. A Matter of Genes: The Hurdles of Gene Therapy for Epilepsy. Epilepsy Curr. 2019;19(1):38-43. doi:10.1177/1535759718822846 |
| Code | Synthetic description of the service offered | Cost (€) |
| In the Laboratory for Preclinical Research (LARP) we are able to offer spaces for breeding and maintaining small laboratory animals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits, ensuring their well-being in accordance with D.Lgs. 26/2014 and maintaining a "specific pathogen free" (SPF) health status according to Felasa guidelines. We can offer advice on the formulation of the experimental design of projects involving animal testing; During the consultation, you will be able to make a budget of the overall cost including the animal model and the analysis required. The Service also offers free advice for specific projects commissioned, providing quotes based on the user's research needs: please contact the service representative who can give you any suggestions. Rates show ex vivo specific analysis costs For routine analysis the prices can be agreed (possible subscription). |
To be agreed | |
| AF-IH | Immunohistochemistry of an antigen on histological sections or on primary cultures: 10 slides (favourable rates can be arranged according to the number of samples to be examined and slides required) | 280.00 + cost of antibody |
| AF-IF | Immunofluorescence of an antigen on histological sections or on primary cultures: 10 slides (favourable rates can be arranged according to the number of samples to be examined and slides required) | 280.00 + cost of antibody |
| AF-S | Histological staining on tissue sections or on primary cultures (fluoro-jade or propidium iodide or silver staining or Hoechst): 10 slides (favourable rates can be arranged according to the number of samples to be examined and slides required) | 220.00 |
| AF-IS | In situ hybridisation of mRNAs on histological tissue sections | To be agreed |
| AF-CP-N | Preparation of primary culture of neural cells or glial cells or microglial cells, hippocampal or cortical (animals provided by the client) | 600.00 |
| AF-IA | Images acquisition by fluorescence microscope Leica DMRA2 and analysis of images by MCID (specialized assistance) | 55.00/hour 250.00/day |
| AF-MC-N | Neurotransmitters measuring | 40.00/sample |
| AF-MC | Brain levels measuring of drugs or endogenous substances (other than neurotransmitters) | To be agreed |
| AF-PR-IN | Fixation and Tissue Processing by Bio-Optica VTP300 and embedding tissues in paraffin blocks (Bio-Optica 23-DP500) from 1 to 10 samples from 11 to 30 samples |
10.00/sample 8.00/sample |
| AF-MIC | Cutting of tissue-embedded sections ( microtome Leica RM 2125RT) ( slides provided by the client) | 50.00/hour 250.00/day |
| AF-CRI | Cutting of frozen tissue (criostat Leica) (slides provided by the client) | 50.00/hour 250.00/day |
| AF-LAS | Laser Microdissection and fluorescence Microscope DMLMD6000B, Leica: (specialized personal assistance; for the tissue slides see code AF-CRI) | 60.00/hour 300.00/day |
| INDEPENDENT USE (ONLY IF AUTHORIZED) | ||
| AF-MIC-1 | Microtome Leica RM 2125RT | 30.00/hour 110.00/day |
| AF-CRI-1 | Criostat Leica | 30.00/hour 110.00/day |
| AF-INC | Tissue embedding station Bio-Optica 23-DP500 (paraffin cost not included) |
30.00/hour 110.00/day |
| AF-AI | Image analisys MCID | 25.00/hour 100.00/day |
Some of the services/products offered may be provided with the help of other services of the LTTA Laboratory.
Each service includes a description of the procedure and supply of images for scientific publication purposes.
Prices are shown without VAT and are subjected to change according to the cost of consumables necessary (every 12 months).
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