Microscope and tissue preparation core facility for the molecular and neuroanatomical dissection of neurocircuits

旨在破译大脑功能和大脑各区域之间的相互作用的研究对于理解精神和神经疾病至关重要，同时也有助于理解大脑与其他生理系统的综合机制。由于涉及高度复杂的过程，因此需要准确有效地监测神经元细胞功能及其连接的方法。特别是，我们需要评估在各种正常和病理条件下不同组织中的基因和蛋白质表达，以及对代表潜在治疗靶点的药物的反应。本申请申请为一个核心设施申请资金，该设施将允许处理脑组织，从收集阶段（灌注表）和准备阶段（低温恒温器，振动器）到使用专门的荧光显微镜分析基因和蛋白质。该设备将用于研究大脑的各个区域如何在广泛的网络中相互联系，以及当检查精神疾病的动物模型时，基因和蛋白质如何在这些网络中被修改。在使用道格拉斯研究所现有设备对动物进行完整的行为评估的基础上，该设备将使我们能够将生物化学和基因变化与通常表征精神疾病的行为障碍联系起来。我们希望利用这个设施来提高我们研究的各个方面的潜力，特别是每个申请人的NSERC研究项目，这些项目严重依赖于使用这个核心设施中包含的设备。获得该设备的另一个好处是将改善对本科生和研究生以及博士后在细胞和分子技术方面的培训：使用所要求的设备的先进和强大的技术将构成他们在神经科学方面多样化培训的重要组成部分。

Research aimed at deciphering brain function, and crosstalk between the various brain regions is critical for understanding mental and neurological disorders, but also to apprehend the integrated mechanisms of the brain in relation with other physiological systems. Since highly complex processes are involved, accurate and efficient ways of monitoring neuronal cell function and their connections are needed. In particular, one needs to assess gene and protein expression in different tissues under various normal and pathological conditions, as well as in response to drugs that represent potential targets for treatment. This application is to request funding for a core facility that will allow to process brain tissues from the collection phase (perfusion table) and preparation (cryostat, vibratome) to the analysis of genes and proteins using specialized fluorescence microscopy. This equipment will be used to study how the various regions of the brain are interconnected in broad networks and how genes and proteins are modified in these networks when animal models of mental illness are examined. Building on a complete behavioral assessment of the animals using facilities already in place at the Douglas Institute, this facility will enable us to link the biochemical and genetic changes to the behavioral impairments that often characterize mental pathologies. We wish to use this facility to enhance the potential of various aspects of our research in particular the NSERC research programs of each of the applicants, which rely heavily on the use of the equipment included in this core facility. An additional benefit of acquiring this equipment will be improved training of undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows in cellular and molecular techniques: the use of the advanced and powerful technology of the requested facility will constitute an important part of their diversified training in neuroscience.