Lorenzo Riccio

Self-presentation:

Lorenzo is a biologist specializing in clinical pathology and biochemistry. He is currently affiliated with the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production of the University of Naples Federico II, where he carries out research in the field of dog infertility risks related to environmental pollution. The study is framed within environmental safety, adopting a One Health approach.

Project:

Dog as a sentinel species for male infertility risk: molecular and morphological analysis of testis related to environmental pollution in Campania region

In the last decades, increased male infertility has been associated with exposure to environmental pollutants such as endocrine disruptors (EDCs). These substances have been implicated in the impairment of spermatogenesis and reduced semen quality. Indeed, EDCs impair testicular enzymes expression, Sertoli and Leydig cells function, and the interaction between protamine-like proteins (PLs) and sperm DNA. Humans and dogs share the same environment, resulting in the same exposure to EDCs. In light of these observations, dogs can be used as sentinels species for human infertility risk to demonstrate if a possible cause-effect exists. Our study aims to evaluate morphological and molecular changes in testicles of dogs from different areas of the Campania Region, correlating the findings with EDCs levels from environmental biomonitoring activities

Supervisior:

Prof. Luigi Rosati, University of Naples Federico II, Department of Biology