Raúl Cobo Velacoracho

• Doctor in Experimental Biology
• PhD investigator at University of Alicante

The retinal structure is generally conserved across vertebrates; however, variations occur due to the relationship between environmental factors and visual perception. Birds have adapted to diverse ecological contexts, evolving specialized visual characteristics. In this study, we examined the retina of Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii) using light...

Volcanoes, during their explosive and post-explosive phases, as well as through continuous degassing processes, release a range of pollutants hazardous to human health, including toxic gases, fine particulate matter, and heavy metals. These emissions impact over 14% of the global population living in proximity to volcanoes, with effects that can pe...

The cornea is the transparent part of the eye's outer sheath and the primary refractive element in the optical system of all vertebrates allowing light to focus on the central part of the retina. Maintenance of its curvature and clarity is therefore essential, providing a smooth optical surface and a protective goggle to ensure a focused image on t...

In the context of an active learning process, this study investigated the short-term and long-term academic performance of students in two practical sessions of the Histology course, which included an escape room activity. The impact of this approach on motivation and knowledge retention was also assessed. Students were divided into a control group...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain, and ultimately, bone erosion of the joints. The causes of this disease are multifactorial, including genetic factors, such as the presence of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*04 variant, alterations in the microbiota, or immune factors including increased cytot...

The use of Xenopus oocytes in electrophysiological and biophysical research constitutes a long and successful story, providing major advances to the knowledge of the function and modulation of membrane proteins, mostly receptors, ion channels, and transporters. Earlier reports showed that these cells are capable of correctly expressing heterologous...

Fritillaria bulbs are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat several illnesses. Peimine (Pm), an anti-inflammatory compound from Fritillaria, is known to inhibit some voltage-dependent ion channels and muscarinic receptors, but its interaction with ligand-gated ion channels remains unexplored. We have studied if Pm affects nicotinic acetylch...

Most local anesthetics (LAs) are amine compounds bearing one or several phenolic rings. Many of them are protonated at physiological pH, but benzocaine (Bzc) is permanently uncharged, which is relevant because the effects of LAs on nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) depend on their presence as uncharged or protonated species. The aims...

Muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRms) belong to the Cys-loop subfamily of receptors and are key elements for synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction. There are two subtypes of nAChRms, differentially expressed during the lifetime, with their own structural, functional, and pharmacological characteristics. A broad numbe...

Nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) are included among the targets of a variety of local anesthetics, although the molecular mechanisms of blockade are still poorly understood. Some local anesthetics, such as lidocaine, act on nAChRs by different means through their ability to present as both charged and uncharged molecules. Thus, we e...

Introduction: Tetracaine (Ttc) is a local anesthetic that inhibits muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs). However, the mechanisms of nAChR blockade by Ttc are yet poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore Ttc effects on the desensitization rate of muscle-type nAChRs, since other local anesthetics, lik...