The Neurochemistry Core at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute completes services from design to sample collection in interstitial space of the CNS or subcutaneous space. The core can perform conventional—often used to examine acute drug effects—or quantitative—typically used to assess neuroadaptive effects after long-term treatment or aging—types of microdialysis. It is also set up to measure amino acids, monoamines and some drugs and metabolites. The Neurochemistry Core was integral to the funding of the Roberts Alzheimer’s disease Translational Science Grant.
What can the Core do for you?
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Assess how a genetic mutation affects interstitial and/or tissue levels of Abeta, tau, and/or proinflammatory proteins in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.
- Perform concentration-response assessments of drug treatments by perfusing drug into the probe and assessing effects on collected molecules or giving the drug systemically and observing local effects.
- Observing effects of self-administration (e.g. alcohol drinking) on analyte levels in a brain area.
- Measure interstitial levels of drugs entering the brain after systemic administration.
- Determine how local perfusion of a drug affects gene expression/protein levels in the area surrounding the probe.
- Assess the effects of chronic treatment or aging on interstitial levels of neurotransmitters or proteins.