1Institute of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, , IT
2Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy, , IT
3Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria, 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy Tel.: +39 95 336990; Fax: +39 95 333206; e-mail: [email protected], , IT 4Institute of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy, , IT