Chronic Constriction of the Sciatic Nerve and Pain Hypersensitivity Testing in Rats
School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales
Due to the simplicity of surgery and the robust behavioural outcome, chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve is one of the pre-eminent animal models of neuropathic pain. Within 24 hrs following surgery, pain hypersensitivity is established and can be quantitatively measured using a von Frey aesthesiometer (mechanical test) and plantar analgesia meter (thermal test).
Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama
This video demonstrates how to employ two neural stimulants, aldicarb and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), in complementary ways to study synaptic function in the nematode, C. elegans. This complementary approach may also be used to shed light on evolutionarily conserved mechanisms for modulating neuronal synchrony and has implications for epilepsy and seizures.
Basophil Activation Test for Investigation of IgE-Mediated Mechanisms in Drug Hypersensitivity
1Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, 2Department of Neurology, Paracelsus Medical University, 3Department of Dermatology, Paracelsus Medical University, 4Bühlmann Laboratories, 5Christian Doppler Laboratory for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy, University of Salzburg
Basophil activation test is a potent tool for the detection of IgE-dependent allergies in vitro. Here, an optimized protocol for basophil activation test is used to investigate drug hypersensitivity. A method for the efficient production of covalent drug-protein conjugates and their physicochemical characterization is described.
Induction and Monitoring of Adoptive Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity in Rats
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) is an inflammatory reaction mediated by CCR7- effector memory T (TEM) lymphocytes. Here we demonstrate how to activate antigen-specific TEM cells, induce adoptive DTH in Lewis rats and monitor the inflammatory response.
Induction and Monitoring of Active Delayed Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) in Rats
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) is an inflammatory reaction mediated by CCR7- effector memory T lymphocytes. Here we demonstrate how to induce active DTH in Lewis rats and monitor the inflammatory response.
Probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy of the Urinary Tract: The Technique
1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 2Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System
Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy enables real-time microscopy of the human urinary tract during cystoscopy, providing dynamic, intravital imaging of pathological states such as bladder cancer with cellular resolution. Endomicroscopy may augment the diagnostic accuracy of standard white light endoscopy and provide intraoperative image guidance to improve surgical resection.
Trans-vivo Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Assay for Antigen Specific Regulation
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health
We describe a valuable diagnostic assay that could potentially be used to decide the withdrawal of immunosuppression after transplant without elevated risk of graft rejection. The assay uses the principles of Delayed Type Hypersensitivity and provides accurate assessment of both donor specific effector and regulatory immune responses mounted by recipients.
The Spared Nerve Injury (SNI) Model of Induced Mechanical Allodynia in Mice
1The Lundbeck Foundation Research Center MIND, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 2Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
The Spared Nerve Injury animal model is described here as a mouse model of peripheral neuropathic pain following partial denervation of the sciatic nerve by lesioning the tibial and common peroneal nerve branches, leaving the remaining sural nerve intact. Behavioral modification resulting from mechanical allodynia is quantified by von Frey filaments.
Imaging Effector Memory T cells in the Ear After Induction of Adoptive DTH
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine (UCI), 2Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Here we demonstrate a method for inducing and recording the progress of a delayed type-hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in the rat ear. This is followed by a demonstration of the preparation of rat ear tissue for two-photon imaging of the effector / memory T cell response.
Acute and Chronic Tactile Sensory Testing after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
1Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, School of Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University, 2Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University College of Medicine
We describe two tactile sensory testing methods for acute or chronic periods of spinal cord injury in rats. These validated procedures can detect the development and maintenance of allodynia-like sensations.
Analysis of Pulmonary Dendritic Cell Maturation and Migration during Allergic Airway Inflammation
1Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, 2Physiology and Experimental Medicine Research Program, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
We describe a strategy to monitor maturation and migration of pulmonary dendritic cells in response to ovalbumin in the setting of ovalbumin induced allergic airway inflammation. This strategy can be modified to assess migration of pulmonary dendritic cells in settings of infection.
Drawing Blood from Rats through the Saphenous Vein and by Cardiac Puncture
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Blood draws are necessary in a large number of studies, for example to study the pharmacokinetics profile of a compound. Here, we demonstrate how to draw blood from rats using two techniques: blood draw from the saphenous vein or by cardiac puncture.
Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA1
1Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, 2Departments of Molecular Immunology and Clinical Oncology, Tohoku University
We provide a method for testing BRCA1 variants in a tissue culture based assay for homologous recombination repair of DNA damage by depleting endogenous BRCA1 protein from a cell using RNAi and replacing it with a BRCA1 point mutant that contains a coding change.
Gene Delivery to Postnatal Rat Brain by Non-ventricular Plasmid Injection and Electroporation
1Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, 2Faculty of Biological and Enviromental Sciences, University of Helsinki
This protocol describes a non-viral method of delivery of genetic constructs to a certain area of living rodent brain. The method consists of plasmid preparation, micropipette fabrication, neonatal rat pup surgery, microinjection of the construct, and in vivo electroporation.
Rapid Determination of the Thermal Nociceptive Threshold in Diabetic Rats
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wright State University, 2Human Movement Laboratory, Universidade São Judas Tadeu
Here, we describe a rapid reliable and simple procedure to determine the lowest temperature at which rats or mice show nocifensive behavior, i.e. the thermal nociceptive threshold (TNT). This method applies a slowly increasing thermal stimulus allowing precise and reproducible estimation of TNTs with minimum, if any, stress to the animals.
Evaluation of Respiratory System Mechanics in Mice using the Forced Oscillation Technique
1Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Department of Medicine, McGill University, 2SCIREQ Scientific Respiratory Equipment Inc.
The present protocol provides a detailed step-by-step description of the procedures required to execute measurements of respiratory system mechanics as well as the assessment of airway responsiveness to inhaled methacholine in mice using the forced oscillation technique (flexiVent; SCIREQ Inc, Montreal, Qc, Canada).
Intraspinal Cell Transplantation for Targeting Cervical Ventral Horn in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University Medical College
Neural precursor transplantation is a promising strategy for protecting and/or replacing lost/dysfunctional cervical phrenic motor neurons in spinal cord injury (SCI) and the motor neuron disorder, amyotrophic laterals sclerosis (ALS). We provide a protocol for cell delivery to cervical spinal cord ventral horn in rodent models of ALS and SCI.
Mapping Bacterial Functional Networks and Pathways in Escherichia Coli using Synthetic Genetic Arrays
1Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 2Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 3Department of Biochemistry, Research and Innovation Centre, University of Regina
Systematic, large-scale synthetic genetic (gene-gene or epistasis) interaction screens can be used to explore genetic redundancy and pathway cross-talk. Here, we describe a high-throughput quantitative synthetic genetic array screening technology, termed eSGA that we developed for elucidating epistatic relationships and exploring genetic interaction networks in Escherichia coli.
