Riccardo Fesce
Riccardo Fesce
e-mail:
affiliation: Università dell'Insubria
research area(s): Neuroscience, Computational Biology
Course: Neurobiology
University/Istitution: Università dell'Insubria
Born june 22, 1953
1979: MD degree
1985: Specialization degree in Medical Pharmacology
1983-85: Research Associate - Biophysics Lab. - the Rockefeller University, New York, NY
1985-2001: Research Associate - National Research Council - Cytopharmacology Center - Milano, Italy
2001-2006: Associate Professor (Physiology) - Insubria University - Varese, Italy
2006-today: Full Professor (Physiology) - Insubria University - Varese, Italy
From ISI-WoK: 71 publications (2.7 per year since 1985), 1,493 total cites, Average Citations per Item: 21.03, Average Citations per Year(2007-2011): 55.3
h-index : 23
Research activity regards two main fields:
1. Electrophysiological approaches to the study of synaptic function
a) biophysical characterization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (NAChR) at the rat orthosympathetic ganglion (collaboration with O. Sacchi, Ferrara University)
b) analysis of sensory signal processing at the cytoneural junction in frog labyrinthine posterior canal (collaboration with M.L. Rossi, Ferrara University)
c) development and characterization of neuronal networks in primary culture for the functional study of genetic defects or drug and cytokine effects through multiple extracellular recording (multielectrode array, MEA) (collaboration F. Valtorta, San Raffaele Scientific Institute)
2. Mathematical, computational and modeling approaches to the analysis of the biophysical properties of permeability and selectivity of the ganglioninc NAChR, to the transfer function of sensory signal processing at the labyrinthine cytoneural junction, and to analysis of patch clamp recordings from cerebellar and thalamocortical slices (collaboration with L. Forti, Insubria University).
1. Title: Changes in Cationic Selectivity of the Nicotinic Channel at the Rat Ganglionic Synapse: A Role for Chloride Ions?
Author(s): Sacchi O, Rossi ML, Canella R and Fesce R
Source: PLOS ONE Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Article Number: e17318 Published: FEB 25 2011
2. Title: Exposure to reduced gravity impairs junctional transmission at the semicircular canal in the frog labyrinth
Author(s): Rossi ML, Rubbini G, Gioglio L, Martini M and Fesce R
Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY Volume: 298 Issue: 2 Pages: R439-R452 Published: FEB 2010
3. Title: ANALYSIS OF PRE- AND POSTSYNAPTIC ACTIVITY IN THE FROG SEMICIRCULAR CANAL FOLLOWING OTOTOXIC INSULT: DIFFERENTIAL RECOVERY OF BACKGROUND AND EVOKED AFFERENT ACTIVITY
Author(s): Russo G, Calzi D, Gioglio L, ... Fesce R et al.
Source: NEUROSCIENCE Volume: 163 Issue: 4 Pages: 1327-1339 Published: NOV 10 2009
4. Title: Ionic currents in hair cells dissociated from frog semicircular canals after preconditioning under microgravity conditions
Author(s): Martini M, Canella R, Leparulo A, ... Fesce R and Rossi ML.
Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY Volume: 296 Issue: 5 Pages: R1585-R1597 Published: MAY 2009
5. Title: Isolation and possible role of fast and slow potassium current components in hair cells dissociated from frog crista ampullaris
Author(s): Martini M, Canella R, Fesce R and Rossi ML.
Source: PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY Volume: 457 Issue: 6 Pages: 1327-1342 Published: APR 2009
6. Title: The nicotinic activation of the denervated sympathetic neuron of the rat
Author(s): Sacchi O, Rossi ML, Canella R and Fesce R.
Source: NEUROSCIENCE Volume: 154 Issue: 4 Pages: 1360-1371 Published: JUL 17 2008
7. Title: Regulation of the subthreshold chloride conductance in the rat sympathetic neuron
Author(s): Sacchi O, Rossi ML, Canella R and Fesce R.
Source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Pages: 1112-1126 Published: FEB 2007
8. Title: Potassium currents in the hair cells of vestibular epithelium: position-dependent expression of two types of A channels
Author(s): Russo G, Calzi D, Martini M, ... Fesce R. and Prigioni I.
Source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Pages: 695-704 Published: FEB 2007
Project Title:
Differential mechanisms in excitatory / inhibitory synapse development and maturation.
Correct balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) is crucial in central nervous system functioning, and epilepsy or other neuropathologies may arise from its alteration. Specific molecular and cellular mechanisms are involved in (1) establishing E/I balance during development and (2) maintaining such balance at later times. This project is focused on the former aspects, given the high efficiency of synapse formation and remodeling during development.
Our purpose is to clarify when and how the balance between excitatory and inhibitory components is established, to what extent developmental processes and the respective levels of activity of the two components influence the final balance, and whether critical periods occur in development, so that momentary alterations in E/I balance may produce persistent changes and functional effects in the adult organism.
The activity of GABAergic and glutamatergic systems will be modulated using specific agonists and antagonists, so to produce E/I imbalance at various developmental stages. Similar studies will be performed in neurons from triple synapsin KO mice (TKO), which display an epileptic phenotype, presumably due to E/I imbalance. Parallel morphological studies of neuronal development in vitro will be performed to monitor neuritogenesis, synaptogenesis, and possible effects of E/I imbalance on these processes; functional studies of E/I balance in thalamocortical slices of wild-type and TKO at various developmental stages.
* * *
Morphological, cell culture, immunocytochemical, optical and electronic microscopy studies will be performed at San Raffaele in Milano (collaboration with F. Valtorta). Functional analyses (Ca2+ levels, multielectrode array recording, patch clamp) will be carried on partly at the same lab, partly at the Cellular Physiology Lab, Uninsubria, in Busto Arsizio.