Porceddu Riccardo

	Phone:
	Email:	riccardo.porceddu@unica.it
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Curriculum vitae

Riccardo received his bachelor’s degree in biology at University of Cagliari in 2016, with a thesis entitled “Colocalization of alpha-2A adrenegic receptors in the ventral tegmental area”, supervised by Prof. Saturnino Spiga. The thesis was focused on the putative noradrenergic control on the mesolimbic system in the rat brain. In particular, he took part to the neuroanatomical surveys, working on the 3D confocal reconstructions.

He earned his master’s degree in marine Bio-ecology with the highest honours from the University of Cagliari in 2018. Prof. Saturnino Spiga supervised the thesis titled “Effects of Caulerpa cylindracea (Sonder, 1845) withdrawal in diencephalic neurons of Diplodus sargus (Linneus, 1758) brain.” This thesis study was inspired by the well-known behaviour of the omnivorous fish D. sargus, which can become a selective feeder of the algae C. cylindracea, an invasive species of the Mediterranean Sea that has a negative impact on the D. sargus. Notably, the study focused on the neuroanatomical effects of C. cylindracea withdrawal on a specific group of dopaminergic neurons implicated in the fish’s reward system, explaining a part of the mechanisms involved in this food seeking and intake. Riccardo did not limit himself to marine biology for the duration of his internship. He gained experience in histology procedures by interning in the old neuroanatomy laboratory, which ranged from the smallest fish brains to the largest human brains, taking part in a collaboration between University of Cagliari and USA research group (NeuroDigiTech).

After the graduation, he presented his thesis work at the project’s concluding conference, “Impact of invasive alien species on Sardinian ecosystems,” in which his supervisor was a co-author.

In 2019 won a research scholarship for the project “New methods for visualization and characterization of human neurons (post-mortem)”, supervised by Prof. Saturnino Spiga. This project focused on using long-preserved human brain tissue in formalin to combine the Golgi staining and immunofluorescence, making these tissues accessible for the study of human brain diseases. The obtained results were presented during the conference “Italian Group for the Study of Neuromorphology (2020)”. The presented scientific contribution was awarded with a price for one of the best young researcher’s lines.

Since 2022, he has been a collaborator for the Italian “National Inter-university Consortium for Marine Sciences”, participating to the collecting of meristic data in research fishing campaigns in the seas surrounding Sardinia (GSA 11), linked to the MEDITS european program.

Nowadays, Riccardo is a PhD student at Cagliari University, under the supervision of Prof. Maria Cristina Follesa and Prof. Saturnino Spiga. His current research focuses on the neuroecology of cartilaginous fish, with particular interest on the brain pituitary gonadal system, with the main aim of characterizing the anatomical changes in the reproductive cycles.

Publications

Porceddu Riccardo, Porcu Cristina, Mulas Giovanna, Spiga Saturnino, Follesa Maria Cristina “Ontogenetic changes in the tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive preoptic area in the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula (L., 1758) females: catecholaminergic involvement in sexual maturation”. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy (2023), 17. doi: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1301651

Porceddu Riccardo, Podda Cinzia, Mulas Giovanna, Palmas Francesco, Picci Luca, Scano Claudia, Spiga Saturnino, Sabatini Andrea “Changes in Dendritic Spine Morphology and Density of Granule Cells in the Olfactory Bulb of Anguilla anguilla (L., 1758): A Possible Way to Understand Orientation and Migratory Behaviour” Biology (2022), 11(8), 1244. doi: 10.3390/biology11081244

Porcu Cristina, Lai Eleonora, Bellodi Andrea, Carbonara Pierluigi, Cau Alessandro, Mulas Antonello, Pascale Noemi, Porceddu Riccardo, Follesa Maria Cristina “Investigating the Ovarian Microstructure in the Genera Helicolenus and Scorpaena (Teleostei, Sub-Order Scorpaenoidei) with Implications for Ovarian Dynamics and Spawning” Animals (2022), 12(11), 1412. doi: 10.3390/ani12111412

Marongiu Martina Francesca, Porcu Cristina, Pascale Noemi, Bellodi Andrea, Cau Alessandro, Mulas Antonello, Pesci Paola, Porceddu Riccardo, Follesa Maria Cristina. “A Taxonomic Survey of Female Oviducal Glands in Chondrichthyes: A Comparative Overview of Microanatomy in the Two Reproductive Modes.” Animals 11, no. 9 (2021): 2653. doi: 10.3390/ani11092653

Cau Alessandro, Franceschini Simone, Moccia Davide, Gorule Pankaj A., Agus Blondine, Bellodi Andrea, Cannas Rita, Carugati Laura, Cuccu Danila, Dessì Claudia, Marongiu Martina Francesca, Melis Riccardo, Mulas Antonello, Porceddu Riccardo, Porcu Cristina, Russo Tommaso, Follesa Maria Cristina. “Scattered accumulation hotspots of macro-litter on the seafloor: Insights for mitigation actions.” Environmental Pollution (2021): 118232. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118338

Spiga Saturnino, Mulas Giovanna, Porceddu Riccardo, Picci Luca, Sabatini Andrea “Characterization and visualization of the human neurons (post-mortem) combining the Golgi Method and Immunofluorescence” in “Proceedings of the 30thNational Conference of the Italian Group for the Study of Neuromorphology “Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Neuromorfologia” G.I.S.N. Torino, November 12-14, 2020”. European Journal of Histochemistry. Issue Vol. 64 No. s3 (2020). doi: 10.4081/ejh.2020.3200

Porceddu Riccardo, Porcu Cristina, Mulas Giovanna, Spiga Saturnino, Follesa Maria Cristina “Sexual maturity changes in neuronal plasticity of the catecholaminergic preoptic region in the small spotted catshark female’s brain”. Congress Poster: 82° congresso dell’Unione Zoologica Italiana (2023).

Posters and presentations

Psceddu Antonio, Mulas Giovanna, Porceddu Riccardo, Cau Alessandro, Moccia Davide, Spiga Saturnino. “Food addicted fish: impact of the invasive alien algae C. cylindracea Sonder on the central nervous system of D. sargus “. Congress presentation: XXIV Congresso dell’Associazione Italiana di Oceanologia e Limnologia (2019)

Spiga Saturnino, Mulas Giovanna, Porceddu Riccardo, Pusceddu Antonio “Effetti di Caulerpa Cylindracea sul sistema nervoso centrale di Diplodus sargus”. Congress presentation: Impact of Invasive Alien Species on Sardinian Ecosystems (2019)

Pusceddu Antonio, Mulas Giovanna, Porceddu Riccardo, Cau Alessandro, Moccia Davide, Spiga Saturnino. “Food addicted fish: impact of the invasive alien algae C. cylindracea Sonder on the central nervous system of D. sargus “. Congress presentation: XXIV Congresso dell’Associazione Italiana di Oceanologia e Limnologia (2019)