Research Techniques and Protocols
Behavioral Analysis
- Exploration of the Elevated Plus Maze (assay of anxiety)
- Activity in the Open Field Arena (assay of anxiety and locomotion)
- Head poking in the Hole Board Arena (assay of checking and repetition)
- Marble burying (assay of hoarding and contamination)
- Grooming (assay of hygiene activities)
- Checking of Novel Object (assay of checking and neophobia)
Neurochemical Analysis
- Measurement of neurochemical levels using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Detection of stress hormone levels using ELIZA assays and spectrophotometry
- Quantification of neuronal proteins via immunocytochemistry
- PCR quantification of DNA and RNA
Lab Equipment
- high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection
- and auto sampler
- spectrophotometric plate reader
- immunohistochemistry slide racks and glassware
- real-time system PCR analysis system and software
- light microscope (with video camera) hooked up to image software
- refrigerated cryostat
- - 80 and – 20 oC freezers
- bench top centrifuge
- analytical balance
- water bath sonicator
-
assorted behavioral arenas and mazes
Key Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Andersen SL, Greene-Colozzi EA, and Sonntag KC (2010). . Biological Psychiatry 68:741-747.
- Faravelli C, Sauro CL, Godini L, Lelli L, Benni L, Pietrini F, Lazzeretti L, Talamba GA, Fioravanti G, Ricca V (2012) . World Journal of Psychiatry. 2(1): 13-25.
- Kreiss DS, Coffman CF, Fiacco NR, Granger JC, Helton BM, Jackson JC, Kim LV, Mistry RS, Mizer TM, Palmer LV, Vacca JA, Winkler SS, and Zimmer BA (2013). . Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. 104:119-124.
- Zike I, Xu T, Hong N, and Veenstra-VanderWeele J (2017) . Neuroscience. 345: 256–273.
Additional Resources
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