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Dr Mario Ricci

PhD BHSc (Hons) (The University of Adelaide)
Lecturer
Academic Program Adviser, Bachelor of Health Sciences Program

e-mail: mario.ricci@adelaide.edu.au

Teaching and Administration:

Mario currently teaches primarily in the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program (BHSc). Specifically, he is a co- course coordinator, with Dr Eleanor Peirce, of Human Biology IA/B which is a compulsory first year BHSc course. In addition, Mario is an Academic Program Adviser for the BHSc Program, as well as a member of the Management Committee for the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. Therefore, prospective and current students should feel free to contact him if they have any queries regarding course choices and study pathways suitable for specific careers. Mario also teaches to functional histology and introductory anatomy to undergraduate MBBS (Medicine) and Bachelor of Science students.

Research:

Mario's general research interests are in the mammalian gamete form and function, however his specific areas of interest and expertise are in the organisation and composition of the testis, morphogenesis of spermatozoa during spermiogenesis, forces involved in the shaping of the sperm head during spermiogenesis, maturation of sperm during epididymal transit, and structure, composition and function of the sperm tail cytoskeletal structures. Furthermore he is interested in the evolutionary changes in sperm form between placental and marsupial species. As part of his PhD project, entitled "The Marsupial Sperm Tail Cytoskeleton: A Morphological and Biochemical Study", Mario devised techniques for isolating and purifying the marsupial sperm tail outer dense fibres and fibrous sheath, and characterised the proteins contained therein. Mario is an active member of the Reproductive Biology Research Group within the Department of Anatomical Sciences, as well as the UK Society for Reproduction and Fertility, the Australian Society for Reproductive Biology, and the Australian Mammal Society.

Recent Publications:

1. Ricci M and Breed WG (2005) Morphogenesis of the Fibrous Sheath in the Marsupial Spermatozoon. Journal of Anatomy (submitted)
2. Ricci M and Breed WG (2002) Why are wombat sperm so different in morphology from those of most marsupials? - an ultrastructural study of their morphogenesis. Proceedings of the 17th Australian Conference on Electron Microscopy, Adelaide, Australia, February 2002.
3. Ricci M and Breed WG (2001) Isolation and characterization of the outer dense fibres and fibrous sheath from the sperm tail of a marsupial: the brush-tail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Reproduction 121: 373-388
4. Ricci M and Breed WG (2001) Immunocytochemical investigation of fibrous sheath morphogenesis in a marsupial: the brush-tail possum. Society for the Study of Fertility Annual Conference, pp 34, University of Cambridge, England, July 2001
5. Breed WG, Leigh CM and Ricci M (2001) The structural organization of the sperm components of the wombat and koala (Suborder: Vombatiformes): an enigma amongst marsupials. Journal of Anatomy 198: 57-66
6. Ricci M and Breed WG (2000) Isolation and partial characterization of the outer dense fibres and fibrous sheath from the sperm tail of a marsupial. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility Abstract Series 25, Fertility 2000 Meeting, pp 86, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 2000.
7. Ricci M and Breed WG (1999) Isolation and partial characterization of the outer dense fibres and fibrous sheath brush-tail possum spermatozoa. Proceedings of the Thirtieth Annual Australian Society of Reproductive Biology Conference, pp 109, Melbourne, Australia, September 1999.
8. Ricci M and Breed WG (1998) Spermiogenesis and spermatid nuclear shaping in the wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Australian Mammal Society Annual Conference Proceedings, pp 20, Perth, Australia, July 1998.
   

Contact Mario: mario.ricci@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: 8303 6294