Immunolocalization of Two Neurotrophins, NGF and BDNF, in the Pancreas of the South American Sea Lion <i>Otaria flavescens</i> and Bottlenose Dolphin <i>Tursiops truncatus</i>
Claudia Gatta,
Luigi Avallone,
Anna Costagliola,
Paola Scocco,
Livia D’Angelo,
Paolo de Girolamo,
Elena De Felice
Affiliations
Claudia Gatta
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Luigi Avallone
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Anna Costagliola
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Paola Scocco
School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Livia D’Angelo
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Paolo de Girolamo
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Elena De Felice
School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, Italy
In this study, we have investigated the immunolocalization of NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) and BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) in the pancreas of two species of marine mammals: Tursiops truncatus (common bottlenose dolphin), belonging to the order of the Artiodactyla, and Otaria flavescens (South American sea lion), belonging to the order of the Carnivora. Our results demonstrated a significant presence of NGF and BDNF in the pancreas of both species with a wide distribution pattern observed in the exocrine and endocrine components. We identified some differences that can be attributed to the different feeding habits of the two species, which possess a different morphological organization of the digestive system. Altogether, these preliminary observations open new perspectives on the function of neurotrophins and the adaptive mechanisms of marine mammals in the aquatic environment, suggesting potential parallels between the physiology of marine and terrestrial mammals.
