Prof. Maria Giuliana Vannucchi

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine

Embryology and Histology Research Unit

University of Florence, Italy

Associate Professor

Email: mariagiuliana.vannucchi@unifi.it

Qualifications

1993 Ph.D., University of Florence, Italy

1988 Neurology Specialist, University of Florence, Italy

1984 M.D., University of Florence, Italy

Publications

1. Corradetti R., Pedata F., Pepeu G. and Vannucchi M.G. Chronic caffeine treatment reduces caffeine but not  adenosine effects on cortical acetylcholine release. Br. J. Pharmac. 88, 671-676, 1986
2. Vannucchi M.G. and Pepeu G. Effect of phosphatidylserine on acetylcholine release and content in cortical slices from aging rats. Neurobiol. Aging 8, 403-407, 1987
3. Vannucchi M.G., Casamenti F. and Pepeu G. Decrease of acetylcholine release from cortical slices in aged rats: investigations into its reversal by phosphatidylserine. J. Neurochem. 55, 819-825, 1990
4. Vannucchi M.G. and Goldman-Rakic P.S. Age-dependent decrease in the affinity of muscarinic M1 receptors in neocortex of rhesus monkey. P. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 88, 11475-11479, 1991.
5. Vannucchi M.G., Scali C., Kopf S., Pepeu G. and Casamenti F. Selective muscarinic antagonists differentially affect in vivo acetylcholine release and memory performances of young and old rats. Neuroscience 79, 837-846, 1997.
6. Vannucchi M.G., De Giorgio R. and Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. NK1 receptor expression in the interstitial cells of Cajal and neurons and tachykinins distribution in rat ileum during development. J. Comp. Neurol. 383, 153-162, 1997.
7. Vannucchi M.G. Receptors in interstitial cells of Cajal: identification and possible physiological roles. Microsc. Res. Techniq. 47, 325-335, 1999.
8. Vannucchi M.G. and Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Synapse formation during neuron differentiation: an in situ study of the myenteric plexus during murine embryonic life. J. Comp. Neurol. 425, 369-381, 2000.
9. Vannucchi M.G., Zardo C., Corsani L. and Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Interstitial cells of Cajal, enteric neurons, smooth muscle and myoid cells of the murine gastrointestinal tract express full-length dystrophin. Histochem. Cell Biol.118, 449-457, 2002.
10. Hanani M., Ledder O., Yutkin V., Abu-Dalu R., Huang T.Y., Haertig W., Vannucchi M.G. and Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Regeneration of myenteric plexus in the mouse colon after experimental denervation with benzalkonium chloride. J Comp Neurol. 462, 315-327, 2003.
11. Vannucchi m.G., Corsani L. and Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Synaptic vesicle morphology and recycling are altered in myenteric neurons of mice lacking dystrophin (mdx mice)  J. Cell. Physiol. 197, 232-242, 2003.
12. Vannucchi M.G, Zizzo M.G., Zardo C., Pieri L., Serio R., Mulè F. and Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Ultrastructural changes in the interstitial cells of Cajal and gastric dysrhythmias in mice lacking full-length dystrophin (mdx mice). J. Cell. Physiol.199, 293-309, 2004.
13. Wang X-Y, Vannucchi MG, Nieuwmeyer F, Ye J, Faussone-Pellegrini MS, Huizinga JD. Changes in interstitial cells of Cajal at the deep muscular plexus are associated with loss of distention-induced burst-type muscle activity in mice infected by Trichinella spiralis. Am. J. Pathol. 167, 437-53, 2005.
14. Vannucchi M.G., Corsani L., Gianfriddo M., Pedata F., Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Expression of neuronal and inducile nitric oxide synthase in neuronal and glial cells after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Neuroscience 136, 1015-1026, 2005.
15. Melani A., Amadio S., Gianfriddo M., Vannucchi M.G., Volonte C., Bernardi G., Pedata F., Sancesario G. The P2X7 receptor modulation on microglial cells and reduction of brain infarct caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat. J Cerebr Blood F Met. 2006 26, 974-982, 2006.
16. Mulè F., Amato A., Vannucchi M.G., Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. and Serio R. Altered tachychinergic influence on gastric mechanical activity in dystrophic (mdx) mice. Neurogastroent Motil. 18, 844-852, 2006.
17. Faussone-Pellegrini M.S., Vannucchi M.G. Substance P and Neurokinin 1 receptor expression is affected in the ileum of mice with mutation in the W locus. J. Cell Mol Med. 10, 511-518, 2006.
18. Bizzoco E., Vannucchi M.G., Faussone Pellegrini M.S. Transient ischemia increases neuronal nitric oxide synthase, argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase co-expression in rat striatal neurons. Exp Neurol. 204, 252-259, 2007.
19. Vannucchi M.G., Bizzoco E., Corsani L., Gianfriddo M., Pedata F., Faussone Pellegrini M.S. Relationship between neurons expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase, degree of microglia activation and animal survival. A study in the rat cortex after transient ischemia. Brain Res. 1132, 218-227, 2007.
20. Bizzoco E., Faussone-Pellegrini M.S., Vannucchi M.G. Activated microglia cells express argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase in the rat brain after transient ischemia. Exp Neurol. 208, 100-109, 2007.
21. Corsani L., Bizzoco E., Pedata F., Gianfriddo M., Faussone-Pellegrini M.S., Vannucchi M.G. Inducible nitric oxide synthase appears and is co-expressed with the neuronal isoform in interneurons of the rat hippocampus after transient ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Exp Neurol. 211, 433-440, 2008.
22. Midrio P., Vannucchi M.G., Pieri L., Alaggio R., Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Delayed development of intestitial cells of Cajal in the ileum of a human case of gastroschisis. J. Cell Mol Med. 12, 471-478, 2008.
23. Lindley R., Hawcutt D., Connell M., Vannucchi M.G., Faussone-Pellegrini MS., Edgar D., Kenny SE. Human and mouse neurosphere transplantation regulate the function of aganglionic embryonic distal colon. Gastroenterology, 135, 205-216, 2008.
24. Pieri L., Vannucchi M.G., Faussone-Pellegrini M.S. Histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of an interstitial cell type different from ICC and resident in the muscle coat of human gut. J Cell Mol Med. 12(5B), 1944-1955, 2008.
25. Melani A., Cipriani S., Vannucchi M.G., Nosi D., Donati C., Bruni P., Giovannini M.G., Pedata F. Selective adenosine A2a receptor antagonism reduces JNK activation in oligodendrocytes after cerebral ischemia. Brain, 132, 1480-1495. 2009.