title: Decreased argyrophilic nucleolar organiser region (AgNOR) expression in Purkinje cells: first signal of neuronal damage in sudden fetal and infant death.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The nucleolus is an important cellular component involved in the biogenesis of the ribosome. This study was performed in order to validate the introduction of the argyrophilic nucleolar organiser region (AgNOR) stain technique, specific for the nucleoli detection, in neuropathological studies on sudden fetal and infant death.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a wide set of fetuses and infants, aged from 27 gestational weeks to eight postnatal months and dead from both known and unknown causes, an in-depth neuropathological study usually applied at the Lino Rossi Research Center of the Milan University was implemented by the AgNOR method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peculiar abnormalities of the nucleoli, as partial or total disruption above all in Purkinje cells (PCs), were exclusively found in victims of sudden fetal and infant death, and not in controls. The observed nucleolar alterations were frequently related to nicotine absorption in pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that these findings represent early hallmarks of PC degeneration, contributing to the pathophysiology of sudden perinatal death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, 'Lino Rossi' Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lavezzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, 'Lino Rossi' Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alfonsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Institute of Anatomic Pathology, Hospital of Rovereto (Trento), Rovereto (Trento), Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pusiol
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, 'Lino Rossi' Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and SIDS, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matturri
mesh_terms: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001344:Autopsy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; C051963:nucleolar organizer region associated proteins; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: AGNORS; NEUROPATHOLOGY; SIDS