WHAT CAN
YOU EXPECT TO LEARN?
Students in the laboratory can expect to
learn a wide range of neural, endocrine, immune, and behavioral techniques
including:
- High
pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-
to assess neurotransmitter levels in tissues
-
Trans-neuronal viral tract tracing-to
identify the neural circuits involved in regulation of immune and other
physiological responses
-
Immunocytochemistry (ICC)- to
localize brain receptor subtypes
- Cell
proliferation assays-
to determine mitotic activity of lymphocytes in response to
specific mitogens
-
Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assays (ELISAs)-
to determine antibody and cytokine concentrations in blood
serum.
- Enzyme
immunoassays (EIAs)
- to determine specific hormone concentrations
-
Stereotaxic surgeries- to
conduct brain lesions or infusions of neurochemicals
- Behavioral assays-
to assess anxiety, general activity, aggression, reproductive behavior and
circadian wheel-running activity.
-
Surgical and chemical denervations
-
General surgery (e.g., castration, adrenal demedullation, lipectomy)
-
Complement assays
-
Agglutination assays
-
Tests of delayed-type hypetsensitivity (DHT)