Research Services

The Biobehavioral Laboratory has five subdivisions: Cores - Biobehavioral Laboratories Core - Biochemical At present, the biochemical laboratory has the capacity to measure neurochemicals (e.g., serotonin, 5-HIAA, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine), neurotransmitter synthesizing and degrading enzymes (e.g., choline acetyltransferase), and hormones (e.g., prolactin, growth hormone, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, cortisol, ACTH, melatonin). These assays are performed on various body fluids including urine, blood, and saliva from humans. The primary biochemical methods used are high performance liquid chromatography, enzyme-linked immunoabsorbance (ELISA), chemiluminescent (Immulite), and radioimmunoassays. In addition, there is a dry chemical lab, autoclave, and 170 cubic feet of -70 degree storage space for samples for both archival and ongoing experimental studies. Cores - Biobehavioral Laboratories Core - Immune The Immune Function Laboratory performs assays to determine cell phenotypes, natural killer cell cytotoxity, lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokine production. Equipment includes a Level 2 biological safety cabinet, tissue culture incubators, refrigerated centrifuge, microfuge, compound microscope, inverted tissue culture microscope, fluorescence microscope, Coulter counter, plate washer, gamma counter (Cobra), -70° freezer, -20° freezer, refrigerators, liquid N2 storage tank, and a computer terminal for analysis of FACS data. Cores - Biobehavioral Laboratories Core - Sleep The Sleep Research Laboratory was founded in the mid-1970’s by Dr. Betty Giblin, as the first sleep laboratory in a School of Nursing in the U.S. The facility consists of a central monitoring and equipment area with three adjoining private rooms (one of which has its own private bathroom) for subjects to sleep in on recording nights. Sleep can be recorded on three subjects simultaneously by means of the Embla system with Somnologica software (Medicare Company, Reykjavic, Iceland). This device can also be used as a portable system as well. More than 10 ambulatory monitors (Mini-Logger, Sunriver, OR) are available for digital recording for sleep activity from a single subject. Software is available for scoring the activity data for sleep detection, in addition to the cosinor analysis of temperature data. Cores - Biobehavioral Laboratories Core – ANS-Exercise An Exercise and Cardiovascular Monitoring Laboratory is equipped with components of a computerized physiological data acquisition and analysis system, including Holter analysis system, baroreflex system, Hot Flash monitoring detector, metabolic cart, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring system, and respisomnograph system. For exercise studies, there is a treadmill, stationary bike, Universal gym, and a rack of free weights. ECG carts are available, as is a bathroom facility in an adjoining room. Cores - Biobehavioral Laboratories Core - Molecular The School of Nursing has a state of the art Molecular Genetics Laboratory. The existing facilities include: DNA Sequence Detector 9700 (Perkins-Elmer Biosystems), PCR thermal cyclers, refrigerated Jouan centrifuge with rotors for Eppendorf and larger tubes, Polaroid camera for gel documentation, hybridization incubators for Northern and Southern analysis (Robins Scientific), horizontal and vertical gel electrophoresis units (BioRad), power supplies, and computers for data analysis. Freezers, refrigerators, an autoclave and deionized water are available in the adjoining laboratories. Additionally, the laboratory has access to a tissue culture hood and long-term sample storage at –70 degrees.