The Laboratory of Neuroimmunology
Laboratory Facilities

 

  1. A functional biochemical laboratory with standard equipment including HPLC, gamma counter and ELISA readers. The facility also houses two immune laboratories, one standard and one of PC2 standard, with all of the standard equipment required for tissue and cell culture, including incubators, microscopes, and laminar flow/biohazard and biosafety hoods. Endocrine and immune assays are routinely carried out in the facility. The facility also hosts a newly developed PCR facility for protein analysis.
  2. A fully operational animal surgery with operating table, stereotaxic equipment (Kofpt Small Mammal/ Bird Brain Stereotaxic) and anaesthetic equipment (Halothan / Oxygen inhalation machine). It is fully equipped for neuroanatomy and neural dissections, with Zeiss surgical operating microscopes, RF Lesion generator, electrodes and microsyringes, and perfusion equipment all available.
  3. A Behavioural Lab with computer controlled operant boxes suitable for birds and rodents, controlled environmental chambers, psychophysical stimulus production, computerised behavioural tracking devices, video monitoring equipment. The laboratory routinely uses ehavioural tests such as the elevated plus maze, the nose poke, the black and white box, startle test, the open field test, the radial arm maze and the T maze.
  4. A Microscopy & Histology laboratory containing Leitz Upright with flourescent optics and camera, Freezing Microtome,Bench Dissecting Microscopes (5), Cell and brain staining apparatus and chemicals, chemical assays, access to MCID Histological Analyses, access to confocal microscopy and electron microscopy, access to immunohistological facilities.
  5. An animal breed holding facility. Rats, guinea pigs and mice are bred in the vivarium and various strains are available for use. The vivarium is fully accredited by the Animal care and Ethics Committee and is under government legislative control. It is temperature, humidity, light and sound controlled. Current rat strains being used are the Fisher 344,Sprague, Wistar and the Long Evans. Because the laboratory has a focus on fetal development, the laboratory is specialised for monitoring maternal and neonatal interactions.