Techniques

You Signal, I Signal, We All Signal!

Cell Culture of Central and Peripheral Tissues

We culture cells from the cerebral cortex, autonomic ganglia and carotid bodies all of which are known to be involved in respiratory drive or seeking behavior.

Live-Cell Fluorescent Imaging of Intrinsic Calcium Signaling Activity in Cell Cultures

We utilize a variety of florescent probes for monitoring the production of second messengers

(Ca2+, Nitric oxide, cAMP, membrane potential)

Live- and Fixed-Cell Immunofluorescent Histology

We use a variety of florescently tagged antibodies to identify specific cell types and quantify cell-type specific opioid receptor sub-type distribution in order to correlate data obtained with our live-cell imaging experiments.

Western Blot

Western blot analysis is routinely used to access changes in the relative expression level of key proteins involved in opioid receptor signaling and there modulation by intervention (e.g. Tempol)