Scripps NeuroAIDS Preclinical Studies (SNAPS)

Facility:

Physiology Core Facility

Directors:

Dr. Steven Henriksen and Dr. George Siggins

Objective:

The objective of the Physiology Core is to provide state-of-the-art in vivo and in vitro assays for the effects of immune deficiency virus, viral products, cytokines, chemokines and other toxic factors on the regional, cellular, synaptic and molecular physiology of brain regions believed to be involved in neuroAIDS.

Services:

1. Radio-telemetry of animal models of NeuroAIDS
2. Analysis of circadian temperature and activity cycles
3. Sensory evoked potential studies in rodent, feline and simian models of neuro-AIDS
4. Extracellular analysis of neuronal activity in vivo and in vitro for a regional assay of circuit functionality
5. Intracellular and patch-clamp recorded membrane properties of single neurons in vitroIntracellular and patch recording of responses to synaptic input, transmitters, cytokines and viral fragments
6. Infrared (IR) videomicroscopic evaluation of global changes in neuronal excitability in large brain regions in vitro
7. Physiological assays for testing novel compounds
8. Resource for disseminating advice and providing training to CSPAR PIs in all aspects of physiological assessment