Giovanna Zaniolo

Full Professor of Comparative Anatomy and Cytology

Ascidian Biology Lab

Dipartimento di Biologia - Università di Padova

About me

After her degree in 1967 in Biological Sciences at the University of Padova, Giovanna Zaniolo made all her academic career in the Faculty of Sciences of the same university, where she became full professor of Comparative Anatomy in march 2002. At present, she is teaching "Developmental Biology "and "Comparative Anatomy" for the students of Biology and is President of the College of Degrees in Biology (first level degree), Evolutionary Biology and Marine Biology (second level degrees). She was also professor of "Cellular Biology" at Medical Genetic School, Faculty of Medicine.

She has been working for over 20 years on the biology of lower chordates, in particular the ascidians. She demonstrated that these animals perform adaptive solutions in fertilisation and development, accomplishing oviparity, ovoviviparity and viviparity conditions. Her main research interests were directed in ascidian colonies to aspects of development and reproduction, and both the haemocyte and tunic function in self-nonself recognition. She also studied the ascidian nervous system during the embryogenesis and blastogenesis, and development of cerebral ganglion and peripheral nervous system. More recently, her studies are concerning on angiogenetic processes in blastogenic differentiation and regenerative conditions. She evidenced that, similarly to what occurs in vertebrates, growth factors are involved in Botryllus schlosseri vascular regeneration.

She has been retired since 2012 still maintaining her skilful collaboration with the research unit.

Publications

(Click here to download as PDF or click here to contact me for reprints)

Papers

 1975

1) Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G., Majone F., 1975. Determination of polarity and bilateral asimmetry in palleal and     vascular buds of the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Dev. Biol., 46: 79-87.

1976

 2) Zaniolo G., Sabbadin A., Resola C., 1976. Dynamics of the colonial ascidian, Botryllus schlosseri. The fate     of isolated buds. Acta Embryol. Exp. 2: 205-213.

3) Burighel P., Brunetti R., Zaniolo G., 1976. Hibernation of the colonial ascidian Botrylloides leachi (Savigny):     histological observations. Boll. Zool., 43: 293-301.

1978

4) Milanesi C., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., Sabbadin A., 1978. The structure and the fate of the test cuticle during     the fusion-non fusion reaction in colonies of Botryllus schlosseri (Tunicata). Boll. Zool., 45: 83-86.

1979

5) Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G., 1979. Sexual differentiation and germ cell transfer in the colonial ascidian Botryllus  schlosseri. J. Exp. Zool., 207: 289-304.

1981

6) Zaniolo G., 1981. Histology of the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri tunic: in particular, the test cells. Boll.                 Zool., 48: 169-178.

1987

7) Zaniolo G., Trentin P., 1987. Regeneration of the tunic in the colonial ascidian, Botryllus schlosseri. Acta         Embryol. Morphol. Exp., 8: 173-180.

8) Zaniolo G., Burighel P, Martinucci G.B., 1987. Ovulation and placentation in Botryllus schlosseri                          (Ascidiacea): An ultrastructural study. Can. J. Zool., 65: 1181-1190.

    9) Burighel P., Martinucci G.B., Zaniolo G., 1987. Tissue repair during egg segregation in tunic of the                     compound ascidian, Diplosoma listerianum. Acta Embryol. Morphol. Exp., 8: 333-340.

1988

10) Martinucci G.B., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., Brunetti R., 1988. Ovulation and egg segregation in the tunic of a         colonial ascidian, Diplosoma listerianum (Tunicata, Ascidiacea). Zoomorphology, 108: 219-227.

1989

11) Zaniolo G., Manni L., Burighel P., 1989. Test cell differentiation during oogenesis and early embryogenesis     of Botryllus schlosseri (Ascidiacea). Acta Embryol. Morphol. Exp. n.s., 10: 229-236.

1991

12) Sabbadin A., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., 1991. Studies on the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. A review     of some lines of research. Acta Embryol. Morphol. Exp. n.s., 12: 215-226.

1992

13) Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G., Ballarin L., 1992. Genetic and cytological aspects of histocompatibility in                 ascidians. Boll. Zool., 59: 167-173.

1993

14) Manni L., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 1993. Egg envelope cytodifferentiation in the colonial ascidian Botryllus     schlosseri (Tunicata). Acta Zool., 74: 103-113.

1994

 15) Zaniolo G., Manni L., Burighel P., 1994. Ovulation and embryo-parent relationships in Botrylloides leachi         (Ascidiacea). Invert. Reprod. Dev., 25: 215-226.

 16) Manni L., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 1994. An unusual membrane system in the oocyte of the ascidian                 Botryllus schlosseri. Tissue Cell, 26: 403-412.

 17) Manni L., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 1994. Ultrastructural study of oogenesis in the compound ascidian             Botryllus schlosseri (Tunicata). Acta Zool. (Stockh.), 75:101-113. 

 18) Zaniolo G., Manni L., Martinucci G.B., Burighel P., 1994. Sexual reproduction in ascidians: comparative         aspects of oviduct, ovulation and spawning. Anim. Biol., 3: 67-74.

1995

 19) Manni L., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 1995. Oogenesis and oocyte envelope differentiation in the viviparous         ascidian Botrylloides violaceus. Invert. Reprod. Dev., 27: 167-180.

1998

 20) Zaniolo G., Manni L., Brunetti R., Burighel P., 1998. Brood pouch differentiation in Botrylloides violaceus a    viviparous ascidian (Tunicata). Invert. Reprod. Dev., 33: 11-23.

 21) Burighel P., Lane N.J., Zaniolo G., Manni L., 1998. Neurogenic role of the neural gland in the development   of the ascidian, Botryllus schlosseri. J. Comp. Neurol., 394: 230-241.

1999

22) Manni L., Lane N.J., Sorrentino M., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 1999. Mechanism of neurogenesis during the     embryonic development of a tunicate. J. Comp. Neurol., 412: 527-541.

2001

 23) Manni L., Lane N.J., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., 2001. Are neural crests and placodes exclusive to                     vertebrates? Evol. Dev., 3: 297-298.

24) Burighel P., Sorrentino M., Zaniolo G., Thorndyke M.C., Manni L., 2001. The peripheral nervous system of  an ascidian, Botryllus schlosseri, revealed by cholinesterase activity. Invert. Biol., 120: 185-198.

2002

25) Zaniolo G., Lane N.J, Burighel P, Manni L., 2002. Development of motor nervous system in ascidians. J.         Comp. Neurol., 443: 124-135.

26) Manni L., Lane N.J., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 2002. Cell reorganization during epithelial fusion and                 perforation: the case of ascidian branchial fissures. Dev. Dyn., 224: 303-313.

27) Cantini M., Giurisato E., Radu C., Tiozzo S., Pampinella F., Senigaglia D., Zaniolo G., Mazzoleni F.,                 Vitiello L., 2002. Macrophage-secreted myogenic factors: a promising tool for greatly enhancing the                     proliferative capacity of myoblasts in vitro and in vivo. Neurol. Sci., 23: 189-194.

2003

28) Burighel P., Lane N.J., Gasparini F., Tiozzo S., Zaniolo G., Candia Carnevali M.D., Manni L., 2003. Novel,         secondary sensory cell organ in ascidians: in search of the ancestor of the vertebrate lateral line. J. Comp.           Neurol., 461: 236-249.

2004

29) Manni L., Caicci F., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 2004. Hair cells in ascidians and evolution of lateral line                 placodes. Evol. Dev., 6: 379-381.

30) Manni L., Lane N.J., Joly J-S., Gasparini F. Tiozzo S., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 2004. Neurogenic and non-    neurogenic placodes in ascidians. J. Exp. Zool., Part B (Mol. Dev. Evol.), 302: 483-504.

2005

31) Manni L., Agnoletto A., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 2005. Stomodeal and neurohypophysial placodes in Ciona     intestinalis: insights into the origin of the pituitary gland. J. Exp. Zool., Part B (Mol. Dev. Evol.), 304: 324-339.

2006

32) Zaniolo G., Manni L., Ballarin L., 2006. Colony specificity in Botrylloides leachi I. Morphological aspects.         Invert. Surv. J., 3: 125-136.

33) Tiozzo S., Ballarin L., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., 2006. Programmed cell death in vegetative development.         Apoptosis during the colonial life cycle of the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Tissue Cell, 38: 193-201.

34) Manni L., Mackie G.O., Caicci F., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 2006. Coronal organ of ascidians and the                 evolutionary significance of secondary sensory cells in chordates. J. Comp. Neurol., 495: 363-373.

35) Cima F., Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G., Ballarin L., 2006. Colony specificity and chemotaxis in the compound         ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., Part A (Mol. Integr. Physiol.), 145: 376-382.

2007

36) Manni L., Zaniolo G., Cima F., Burighel P., Ballarin L., 2007. Botryllus schlosseri: a model ascidian for the     study of asexual reproduction. Dev. Dyn., 236: 335-352.

37) Gasparini F., Longo F., Manni L., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., 2007. Tubular sprouting as a mode of vascular         formation in a colonial ascidian (Tunicata). Dev. Dyn., 236: 719-731.

38) Ballarin L., Zaniolo G., 2007. Colony specifity in Botrylloides leachi. II. Cellular aspects of the non-fusion         reaction. Invert. Surv. J., 4: 38-44.

2008

39) Gasparini F., Burighel P., Manni L., Zaniolo G., 2008. Vascular regeneration and angiogenic-like                     sprouting mechanism in a compound ascidian is similar to vertebrates. Evol. Dev., 10: 591-605.

40) Burighel P., Caicci F., Zaniolo G., Gasparini F., Degasperi V., Manni L., 2008. Does hair cell                             differentiation predate the vertebrate appearance? Brain Res. Bull., 75: 331-334.

2009

 41) Brunetti R., Zaniolo G., 2009. Phallusia ingeria Trausdedt, 1883: morphology and development                        (Ascidiacea, Tunicata). Lav. Soc. Ven. Sci. Nat., 34: 33-46.

2010

42) Caicci F., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., Degasperi V., Gasparini F., Manni L., 2010. Differentiation of papillae         and rostral sensory neurons in the larva of the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri (Tunicata). J. Comp. Neurol., 518:     544-566.

43) Caicci F., Degasperi V., Gasparini F., Zaniolo G., Del Favero M., Burighel P., Manni L., 2010. Variability of     hair cells in the coronal organ of ascidians (Chordata, Tunicata). Can. J. Zool., 88: 567-578.

2013

    44) Gasparini F., Caicci F., Rigon F., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., Manni L., 2013. Cytodifferentiation of hair cells         during the development of a basal chordate. Hear. Res., 304:188-99.

2014

 45) Gasparini F., Caicci F., Rigon F., Zaniolo G., Manni L., 2014. Testing an unusual in vivo vessel network         model: a method to study angiogenesis in the colonial tunicate Botryllus schlosseri. Sci. Rep., 4: 6460.

46) Zaniolo G., 2014. La pelle: un apparato dalle mille funzioni. Atti e Mem. Accad. Galileiana Padova

2015

47) Gasparini F., Manni L., Cima F., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., Caicci F., Franchi N., Schiavon F., Rigon F.,             Campagna D., Ballarin L., 2015. Sexual and asexual reproduction in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Genesis, 53: 105-120.

Books

1. Sabbadin A., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., 1992. Some aspects of reproduction in ascidians. In: R. Dallai (Ed.) "Sex Origin and Evolution". Selected Symposia and Monographs U.Z.I. Vol. 6. Mucchi, Modena. pp. 103-115.

2. Sabbadin A., Zaniolo G. , Ballarin L., Manni L., Martinucci G.B., Burighel P., 1999. The differentiation of blood and germ cell lines in ascidians. In: Rend. Ist. Lombardo, Accademia di Scienze e Lettere. Incontro di studio N.13 - Embriologia sperimentale, biologia dello sviluppo ed evoluzione, in ricordo di Silvio Ranzi: 39-60.

3. Zaniolo G., Simonetta A.M., 2000. Sistema digerente. In: N.E. Baldaccini, E. Capanna, M.F. Franzoni, G. Giudice, V. Mazzi, I. Nardi, A. Simonetta, C. Vellano, G. Zaniolo, T. Zavanella “Anatomia Comparata”, Antonio Delfino Editore, pp. 582-622.

4. Zaniolo G., Ballarin L., 2001. Colony specificity in Botrylloides leachi (Savigny): preliminary reports. In: M. Sawada, H. Yokosawa, C.C. Lambert (Eds.) “The Biology of Ascidians”, Vol. 23, Springer-Verlag, Tokio, pp. 224-226.

5. Manni L., Sorrentino M., Zaniolo G., Burighel P., 2001. The peripheral nervous system of an ascidian revealed by AchE activity. In: M. Sawada, H. Yokosawa, C.C. Lambert (Eds.) “The Biology of Ascidians”, Vol. 23, Springer-Verlag, Tokio, pp. 142-146.

6. Lane N.J., Manni L., Burighel P., Zaniolo G., 2001. Ascidian brain originates from the neural gland primordium. In: H.J. Th. Goos, R.K. Rastogi, H. Vandry, R. Pierantoni (Eds.) “Perspective in Comparative Endocrinology Unity and Diversity”, Monduzzi, Bologna, pp. 239-244.

7. Zaniolo G., 2002. Evoluzione dei mammiferi e anatomia comparata delle ghiandole mammarie. In: O. Longo, C. Cremonesi (Eds.) “Lac d'Amour. Il Latte e i suoi Derivati”. Cleup Scarl, Padova, pp. 15-25.

8. Zaniolo G., 2005. I mammiferi, l’acqua e …il vino. In: C. Cremonesi, A. Greco (Eds.) “I Poli Culturali del Bere. Acqua e Vino”, S.A.R.G.O.N., Padova, pp. 89-99.

9. Burighel P., Manni L., Zaniolo G., 2009. L’organo coronale delle ascidie e l’evoluzione della cellula sensoriale secondaria nei Cordati. In: S. Casellato, P. Burighel, S. Minelli (Eds.) "Life and Time: the Evolution of Time and its History", Cleup, Padova, pp. 45-58.