1. Reduced ATP turnover during hibernation in relaxed skeletal muscleCosimo De Napoli, Luisa Schmidt, Mauro Montesel, Laura Cussonneau, Samuele Sanniti, Lorenzo Marcucci, Elena Germinario, Jonas Kindberg, Alina L. Evans, Marco Vincenzo Narici, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Hibernating brown bears, due to a drastic reduction in metabolic rate, show only moderate muscle wasting. Here, we evaluate if ATPase activity of resting skeletal muscle myosin can contribute to this energy sparing. By analyzing single muscle fibers taken from the samebears,eitherduring hibernationorin summer,wefindthatfibersfromhibernatingbearshaveamilddeclineinforce production and a significant reduction in ATPase activity. Single fiber proteomics, western blotting, and immunohistochemical analyses reveal major remodeling of the mitochondrial proteome during hibernation. Furthermore, using bioinformatical approaches and western blotting we find that phosphorylated myosin light chain, a known stimulator of basal myosin ATPase activity, is decreased in hibernating and disused muscles. These results suggestthatskeletalmusclelimitsenergylossbyreducingmyosinATPaseactivity, indicating a possible role for myosin ATPase activity modulation in multiple muscle wasting conditions.
Keywords: translational research, animal physiology, metabolism
Published in DiRROS: 14.01.2026; Views: 183; Downloads: 106
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2. Previous short-term disuse dictates muscle geneexpression and physiological adaptations to subsequentresistance exerciseMartino V. Franchi, Julián Candia, Fabio Sarto, Giuseppe Sirago, Giacomo Valli, Matteo Paganini, Lisa M. Hartnell, Emiliana Giacomello, Luana Toniolo, Elena Monti, Leonardo Nogara, Tatiana Moro, Marco Vincenzo Narici, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Short-term unloading experienced following injury or hospitalisation induces muscle atrophy and weakness. The effects of exercise following unloading have been scarcely investigated. We investigated the functional and molecular adaptations to a resistance training (RT) programme following short-term unloading. Eleven males (22.09 ± 2.91 years) underwent 10 days of unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS) followed by 21 days of knee extensor RT (three times/week). Data collection occurred at Baseline (LS0), after ULLS (LS10) and at active recovery (AR21). Knee extensor maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was evaluated. Quadriceps volume was estimated by ultrasonography. Muscle fibre cross-sectional area, fibre type distribution, glycogen content and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity were measured from vastus lateralis biopsies. Mitochondrial-related proteins were quantified by western blot and transcriptional responses were assessed by RNA sequencing. Following ULLS, quadriceps volume and MVC decreased significantly (3.7%, P < 0.05; 29.3%, P < 0.001). At AR21 (vs. LS10), MVC was fully restored (42%) and quadriceps volume increased markedly (18.6%, P < 0.001). Glycogen content and whole-body water increased at AR21 (14%, P < 0.001; 3.1%, P < 0.05). We observed a marked increase in fibre type I at AR21 (38%, P < 0.05). SDH immunoreactivity increased significantly after exercise (20%, P < 0.001). Mitochondrial fusion (MFN1, MFN2 and OPA1) and fission (DRP1) proteins were markedly increased by RT, and the most differentially expressed genes belonged to oxidative phosphorylation pathways. In contrast with what is usually observed after RT, oxidative metabolism, slow fibre type and mitochondrial dynamics were enhanced beyond expected. We propose that prior exposure to short-term muscle unloading may drive the nature of molecular adaptations to subsequent RT.
Keywords: exercise physiology, gene expression, muscle adaptation, muscle atrophy, musle physiology, muscle plasticity, resistance training, unloading responses
Published in DiRROS: 13.01.2026; Views: 196; Downloads: 121
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3. The impact of the 1938 fascist anti-Semitic legislation on the development of physiology in Italian universities following replacement of five full professorsPompeo Volpe, Carlo Reggiani, Aram Megighian, 2025, preface, editorial, afterword Abstract: The effects of the 1938 fascist anti-Semitic laws on the development of physiology in Italy are discussed, focusing on thereplacement of five full professors of human physiology expelled from the Universities of Bologna, Milan, Turin, Genoa, andPalermo. The academic community immediately took action to fill the vacant positions, in the spirit of “business as usual.”Replacements were made via either transfer of tenured professors or appointment of chair competition winners as tenure-track professors. The previous universities of the substitutes (Pavia, Siena, Messina, Parma) were also indirectly involved.Replacement proposals formulated by each university were approved by Giuseppe Bottai, minister of National Education.Overall, about half of the 17 physiology chairs present in Italy were involved with a significant and sudden generationalchange. Based upon biographical and scientific profiles of the expelled professors and their replacements, analysis is carriedout on the ensuing qualitative effects on research activity. For the Italian physiology community, the impact was positive, or atleast not negative in some cases, with the formation of important schools of research. In any case, the moral evaluation canonly be negative on the tacit acceptance of expulsions for racial reasons, considered as ordinary administration or even as anopportunity for a more rapid career. Seen from this perspective, those distant events offer an occasion for reflection and a les-son still valid for all of us today.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The effects of the 1938 fascist anti-Semitic laws on the development of physiology in Italy are discussed,focusing on the replacement of five full professors of human physiology expelled from the Universities of Bologna, Milan, Turin,Genoa, and Palermo. The changes in research topics and the formation of important schools stemming from the application ofthe anti-Semitic laws have been long-lasting and are still present.
Keywords: Italian anti-Semitic laws, fascism, human physiology, university
Published in DiRROS: 09.01.2026; Views: 490; Downloads: 77
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4. Contribution of genetic versus plastic responses to adaptive patterns in a widespread butterfly along a latitudinal clineFranziska Günter, Michaël Beaulieu, Kasimir F. Freiberg, Ines Welzel, Nia Toshkova, Anamarija Žagar, Tatjana Simčič, Klaus Fischer, 2020, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: Understanding how organisms adapt to complex environments is a central goal of evolutionary biology and ecology. This issue is of special interest in the current era of rapidly changing climatic conditions. Here, we investigate clinal variation and plastic responses in life history, morphology, and physiology in the butterfly Pieris napi along a pan-European gradient by exposing butterflies raised in captivity to different temperatures. We found clinal variation in body size, growth rates and concomitant development time, wing aspect ratio, wing melanisation, and heat tolerance. Individuals from warmer environments were more heat-tolerant, had less melanised wings and a shorter development but still they were larger than individuals from cooler environments. These findings suggest selection for rapid growth in the warmth and for wing melanisation in the cold, and thus fine-tuned genetic adaptation to local climates. Irrespective of the origin of butterflies, the effects of higher developmental temperature were largely as expected, speeding up development, reducing body size, potential metabolic activity, and wing melanisation, while increasing heat tolerance. At least in part, these patterns likely reflect adaptive phenotypic plasticity. In summary, our study revealed pronounced plastic and genetic responses, which may indicate high adaptive capacities in our study organism. Whether this may help such species though to deal with current climate change needs further investigation, as clinal patterns have typically evolved over long periods.
Keywords: butterflies, morphology, physiology, genetics, climate change, data
Published in DiRROS: 27.10.2025; Views: 388; Downloads: 235
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5. Data from: A metabolic syndrome in terrestrial ectotherms with different elevational and distribution patternsAnamarija Žagar, Miguel A. Carretero, Diana Marguč, Tatjana Simčič, Al Vrezec, 2018, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: The metabolic performance of ectotherms is expected to be driven by the environment in which they live. Ecologically similar species with contrasting elevation distributions occurring in sympatry at mid-elevations, provide good models for studying how physiological responses to temperature vary as a function of adaptation to different elevations.. Under sympatry, at middle elevations, where divergent species ranges overlap, sympatric populations are expected to have similar thermal responses, suggesting similar local acclimation or adaptation, while observed differences would suggest adaptation to each species’ core range. We analysed the metabolic traits of sympatric species pairs from three ectotherm groups: reptiles (Reptilia: Lacertidae), amphibians (Amphibia: Salamandridae) and beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), living at different elevations, in order to test how adaptation to different elevations affects metabolic responses to temperature. We experimentally tested the thermal response of respiration rate (RR) and estimated potential metabolic activity (PMA) at three temperature regimes surrounding the groups’ optimal activity body temperatures. RR was relatively similar among groups and showed a positive response to increasing temperature, which was more pronounced in the high-elevation species of reptiles and beetles. Relative to RR, PMA displayed a stronger and more consistent positive response to increased temperature in all three groups. For all three groups, the average biochemical capacity for metabolism (PMA) was higher in the range-restricted, high-elevation species, and this difference increased at higher temperatures in a consistent manner. These results, indicating consistent pattern in three independently evolved animal groups, suggest a ubiquitous adaptive syndrome and represent a novel understanding of the mechanisms shaping spatial biodiversity patterns. Our results also highlight the importance of geographic patterns for the mechanistic understanding of adaptations in physiological traits, including species’ potential to respond/adapt to global climate changes.
Keywords: lizards, morphology, physiology, metabolism, climate change, data
Published in DiRROS: 27.10.2025; Views: 383; Downloads: 228
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7. Dolomedes fishing spider biology: gaps and opportunities for future researchKuang-Ping Yu, Zita Roithmair, Jillian Kurovski, Simon J. Connolly, Cor J. Vink, James Chadwick Johnson, Simona Kralj-Fišer, Matjaž Kuntner, Eileen A. Hebets, Christina J. Painting, 2024, review article Abstract: Dolomedes may easily be considered to be among the most charismatic spider taxa. Known colloquially as fishing or raft spiders, this clade of dolomedid cursorial hunters is speciose with about 100 valid species names. Most Dolomedes are large spiders that inhabit water bodies across all continents except Antarctica and, interestingly, South America. Dolomedes have captured the attention of researchers and the public alike for their ability to walk on and submerge under water, fish for prey (including small vertebrates), and for their often-bizarre mating behavior that includes examples of male spontaneous death and sexual cannibalism. In this review, we critically evaluate what is known of Dolomedes biology, focusing on their systematics and morphology, ecology, behavior, and conservation. Given their close association with water, Dolomedes may be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of anthropogenic change and provide an important group of indicator species for understanding the effect of pollution, habitat loss and climate change. We outline a roadmap for future studies that, in our view, will consolidate Dolomedes as an ideal model lineage among spiders for addressing a vast array of questions across multiple fields of biology.
Keywords: raft spiders, behavioral ecology, diversity, physiology, evolution, conservation, Dolomedidae
Published in DiRROS: 28.03.2025; Views: 872; Downloads: 473
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8. Differences in xylem and phloem structure in living stumps of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)Jožica Gričar, Miha Drolc, Peter Prislan, Helena Šircelj, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Living stumps reported in many tree species were the first, circumstantial evidence of root grafting. Although stump overgrowth has been extensively studied in various tree species, anatomical observations have mainly focused on the xylem part. Here, we investigated the xylem and phloem structure in living stumps of two conifer species: Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). The mechanism of wound closure was similar in the two species, however, there were differences in the structure of wound tissues in wood and bark. Immediately after the injury, a callus consisting of parenchymal cells was formed, followed by wound-wood with wide increments. In addition, the wood structure and morphology of tracheids were changed. Tracheids lost their typical elongated and tapering structure; instead, numerous crooked and forked tracheids were present. Traumatic resin canals were present in both species but were more abundant in P. abies, which also had normal resin canals. While the structure of the xylem growth rings eventually normalized in both species, the width of the annual xylem increments was diminished. In both species, the typical structure of annual phloem increment was lost in the non-collapsed phloem and sclereids were very abundant in the collapsed phloem. In A. alba, the collapsed phloem was rich in swollen parenchyma cells containing blue-stained contents, while in P. abies, numerous large traumatic resin canals were conspicuous. The study showed that similar patterns of vascular tissue restoration exist in A. alba and P. abies in response to tree felling. However, there are certain species-specific peculiarities in the wood and phloem anatomical response, which might affect long-term stump functioning and survival.
Keywords: wood physiology, phloem, xylem, Norway spruce, Picea abies, silver fir, Abies alba
Published in DiRROS: 03.12.2024; Views: 918; Downloads: 1920
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9. Patient-derived tumor organoids mimic treatment-induced DNA damage response in glioblastomaBernarda Majc, Anamarija Habič, Marta Malavolta, Miloš Vittori, Andrej Porčnik, Roman Bošnjak, Jernej Mlakar, Alenka Matjašič, Andrej Zupan, Marija Skoblar Vidmar, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Aleksander Sadikov, Barbara Breznik, Metka Novak, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, characterized by resistance to therapy. Despite aggressive treatment options, GB remains an incurable disease. Invasiveness and heterogeneity are key GB features that cannot be studied in preclinical in vitro models. In this study, we investigated the effects of standard therapy using patient-derived GB organoids (GBOs). GBOs reflect the complexity and heterogeneity of the original tumor tissue. No significant effect on GBO viability or invasion was observed after irradiation and temozolomide treatment. E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (MDM2), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), and the serine/threonine kinases ATM and ATR were upregulated at the gene and protein levels after treatment. Our results show that the p53 pathway and DNA-damage response mechanisms were triggered, suggesting that GBOs recapitulate GB therapy resistance. GBOs thus provide a highly efficient platform to assess the specific responses of GB patients to therapy and to further explore therapy resistance.
Keywords: cellular physiology, cellular toxicology, in vitro toxicology including 3D culture, technical aspects of cell biology, cancer
Published in DiRROS: 09.09.2024; Views: 1209; Downloads: 604
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10. Analysis of subcellular energy metabolism in five Lacertidae lizards across varied environmental conditionsAnamarija Žagar, Urban Dajčman, Rodrigo Megía-Palma, Tatjana Simčič, Frederico Barroso, Senka Baškiera, Miguel A. Carretero, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Aerobic respiration is the main energy source for most eukaryotes, and efficient mitochondrial energy transfer greatly influences organismal fitness. To survive environmental changes, cells have evolved to adjust their biochemistry. Thus, measuring energy metabolism at the subcellular level can enhance our understanding of individual performance, population dynamics, and species distribution ranges. We investigated three important metabolic traits at the subcellular level in five lacertid lizard species sampled from different elevations, from sea level up to 2000 m. We examined hemoglobin concentration, two markers of oxidative stress (catalase activity and carbonyl concentration) and maximum rate of metabolic respiration at the subcellular level (potential metabolic activity at the electron transport system). The traits were analysed in laboratory acclimated adult male lizards to investigate the adaptive metabolic responses to the variable environmental conditions at the local sampling sites. Potential metabolic activity at the cellular level was measured at four temperatures – 28 °C, 30 °C, 32 °C and 34 °C – covering the range of preferred body temperatures of the species studied. Hemoglobin content, carbonyl concentration and potential metabolic activity did not differ significantly among species. Interspecific differences were found in the catalase activity, Potential metabolic activity increased with temperature in parallel in all five species. The highest response of the metabolic rate with temperature (Q10) and Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) was recorded in the high-mountain species Iberolacerta monticola.
Keywords: physiology, lacertids, aerobic respiration, interspecific variability, hemoglobin, zoology
Published in DiRROS: 03.09.2024; Views: 948; Downloads: 1331
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