c. Imaging and Tract Tracing Core - Co-Directors: Tim Ebner, Glenn Giesler and Paul Mermelstein Overview and Significance: Purpose of the Core: The Imaging and Tract Tracing Core is designed to allow researchers from diverse experimental backgrounds to take advantage of modern imaging techniques. The Imaging and Tract Tracing Core is intended to strengthen the research of the investigators by providing access to experimental approaches, equipment and skilled personnel that would not normally be readily available. The Core provides researchers with a diverse array of imaging techniques, allowing investigators to probe, at both cellular and systems levels, normal functioning as well as genetically altered changes in brain function. Importance of Core Services: There are three major Divisions in the Imaging and Tract Tracing Core: Confocal Imaging, Tract Tracing/Histology and Activity-Dependent Optical Imaging. The Confocal Imaging Division allows studies ranging from the imaging of structures in single layers of cells to the examination of deeper tissue, in fixed slices and in vivo. The Division provides investigators access and training in single and multiphoton microscopy. The Tract Tracing/Histology Division allows investigators to examine genetic changes in the nervous system at both the cellular and systems level using anterograde and retrograde tracing methods. The Activity-Dependent Optical Imaging Division provides the equipment and technical expertise for in vivo imaging of neuronal activity in mice. Optical imaging of activity-dependent signals includes flavoprotein autofluorescence, voltage sensitive and calcium dyes, pH imaging, and the hemodynamic intrinsic signal. Necessity of the Core: The visualization of nervous system structure and function is one of the most powerful approaches to understanding questions being raised in neuroscience today. Individual laboratories at the University of Minnesota have expertise in specific imaging techniques, but no laboratory has the capability to apply all of these methods in a cohesive manner. In addition, while there are several confocal microscopes on campus, access is limited due to heavy use and for the vast majority of investigators, training is unavailable. The readily available expertise and equipment of the Core allows NINDS investigators to test questions in an integrative fashion, providing greater depth to their findings and driving their research forward.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
5P30NS062158-02
Application #
8375099
Study Section
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial Review Group (NSD)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2011-12-01
Budget End
2012-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$291,766
Indirect Cost
$98,543
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Type
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Teravskis, Peter J; Covelo, Ana; Miller, Eric C et al. (2018) A53T Mutant Alpha-Synuclein Induces Tau-Dependent Postsynaptic Impairment Independently of Neurodegenerative Changes. J Neurosci 38:9754-9767
Hedges, Valerie L; Chen, Gang; Yu, Lei et al. (2018) Local Estrogen Synthesis Regulates Parallel Fiber-Purkinje Cell Neurotransmission Within the Cerebellar Cortex. Endocrinology 159:1328-1338
Chen, Gang; Carter, Russell E; Cleary, John D et al. (2018) Altered levels of the splicing factor muscleblind modifies cerebral cortical function in mouse models of myotonic dystrophy. Neurobiol Dis 112:35-48
Victoria, Nicole C; Marron Fernandez de Velasco, Ezequiel; Ostrovskaya, Olga et al. (2016) G Protein-Gated K+ Channel Ablation in Forebrain Pyramidal Neurons Selectively Impairs Fear Learning. Biol Psychiatry 80:796-806
Lipshetz, Brett; Giesler Jr, Glenn J (2016) Effects of scratching and other counterstimuli on responses of trigeminothalamic tract neurons to itch-inducing stimuli in rats. J Neurophysiol 115:520-9
McBrayer, Zofeyah L; Dimova, Jiva; Pisansky, Marc T et al. (2015) Forebrain-Specific Loss of BMPRII in Mice Reduces Anxiety and Increases Object Exploration. PLoS One 10:e0139860
Jansen, Nico A; Giesler Jr, Glenn J (2015) Response characteristics of pruriceptive and nociceptive trigeminoparabrachial tract neurons in the rat. J Neurophysiol 113:58-70
Cramer, Samuel W; Popa, Laurentiu S; Carter, Russell E et al. (2015) Abnormal excitability and episodic low-frequency oscillations in the cerebral cortex of the tottering mouse. J Neurosci 35:5664-79
Prosise, Jodi F; Hendrix, Claudia M; Ebner, Timothy J (2015) Joint angles and angular velocities and relevance of eigenvectors during prehension in the monkey. Exp Brain Res 233:339-50
Öz, Gülin; Kittelson, Emily; Demirgöz, Döne et al. (2015) Assessing recovery from neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia 1: Comparison of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy with motor testing, gene expression and histology. Neurobiol Dis 74:158-66

Showing the most recent 10 out of 28 publications