Facilities

Increasingly, a high level of technical sophistication is required for success in neuroscience. This translates in to the need for depth and diversity both in expertise and facilities. The faculty bios provide ample evidence of the expertise of the faculty; here, we provide information on IU's neuroscience facilites. These shared resources are made possible by the generosity of Indiana University and the Lilly Foundation Inc. (Indianapolis) which povided a $52,000,000 grant called MetaCyt to IU for life sciences research. Some of the facilities provided by this grant are targeted to neuroscience research, others are mainly used in other disciplines but are, by and large, free for use by neuroscience researchers.

• Overview of MetaCyt facilities: Briefly, the funds are split between five research nodes, one of which is molecular neuroscience, and technology centers. The technology centers include: biochemical analysis, chemical imaging, computational cytomics, genomics and bioinformatics. These centers provide support for life sciences faculty around campus and the fees for use of the MetaCyt equipment is free or at reduced cost compared to most institutions. Extensive information about the MetaCyt program may be fiewed at: Details of the MetaCyt Grant may be viewed at http://metacyt.indiana.edu/.

• The Neuroscience MetaCyt Core Lab: This laboratory houses equipment for cellular and molecular neuroscience. It is provided without charge to all neuroscientists at IU Bloomington. A technical staff is available for help with developing assays, as well as operation of the equipment and performing experiments. The facilities include the following:

• Molecular Devices Flexstation II. Similar to the FLIPR, this device is a plate reader that automatically conducts experiments on 96 or 384 well plates. The effects of drugs or other treatments on cells are automatically carried out monitoring parameters such as calcium influx, nitric oxide levels, or membrane potential.
  
• Molecular Devices Spectramax M5. A multi-function plate reader, this instrument monitors absorbance (e.g. for protein assays), fluorescence (e.g. for ELISA assays), and luminescence (e.g. for luciferase reporter assays).
  
• Kodak Image Station 4000r. An imaging device, this instrument permits visualizationof bands on gels of different types with computer-aided quantification and processing of acquired data.
  
• Nikon/Carve Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope. The latest in confocal technology this instrument uses a super-sensitive camera and low light levels to produce 3D images of fixed and live cells.
  
• Morphometry System: Light microscope equipped for epifluorescence, interfaced with a computer-based morphometry system. This system is used for quantitative neuroanatomical analyses on the level of either individual neurons or neuralstructures, as well as basic morphometry.
  
• Image Analysis System: Light microscope equipped for epifluorescence, interfaced with a computer-based image-analysis system. This system is used for quantitative densitometry including autoradiographic grain counting, regional densitometry, and quantifying gels; cell counting; and basic morphometry.
  
• ESA HPLC/Electrochemical Detector. Useful for cells, microdialysates, and tissue extracts, this instrument permits automatic, ultrasensitive analysis of amino acids, catecholamines and other molecules amenable to electrochemical detection.
• Amaxa Nucleofector, MJ Tetrad Thermal Cycler. These instruments along with various small items for western blots provide important tools for neuro-molecular genetics.

• Additional IU/MetaCyt Facilities/Services: Fluorscence Activated Cell Sorting, Laser Capture Microdissection, Gene Arrays, DNA sequencing, Mass Spectrometry (protein and small molecule analysis by FTMS, Ion Trap, MALDI-TOF, TOF-TOF, and triple quad mass spectrometers), custom chemical synthesis.

• Imaging Research Facility (fMRI). Equipped with a Siemens 3T Magnetom Trio whole body system, the Facility offers neuroscientists the opportunity to image human brains, brain activity, and chemical activity within the brain by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A well-equipped shop in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences has provided a "mock imager" for training subjects and a variety of non-magnetic devices for making responses. MetaCyt provided equipment for measuring eye-movements. A full time physicist and additional technical staff are available for potential users. Fees are modest. Details may be found at: http://www.indiana.edu/~imaging/facilities.html