Central Nervous System

The CNS services are offered in co-operation with VivaCell.

CNS: in vitro Services

Assays for the investigation of inflammation, pain, fever, depression and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc. are offered.

Models

• primary microglia / astrocytes / neurons (rat, murine)
• U373 MG (human astrocytes cell line), human neuronal cll lines
• brain slice cultures
• 293T and CHO cells with heterologue expression of the Vanilloid Receptor type I (VR-1)
  
  

Parameters

• Prostaglandis (e.g. PGE2), cyclooxygenase expression and activity (COX-1, COX-2)
• iNOS / NO release
• cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6, etc.)
• growth factors (NGF, etc.)
• neuropeptides (substance P, etc.)
• transcription factors (NF-kB / IkB, AP-1, STATs, etc.)
• kinases (Erks, Protein kinase C, Jun, p38 MAP, etc.)
• neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin, noradrenalin, dopamin re-uptake)
• proteasome activity
• calcium mobilization, cytotoxicity and apoptosis, determination of ROS and mitochondria transmembrane potential
• agoinst and antagoinst of the VR-1 for non-opiaceus analgesic pharmacophores
• receptor assays (screening, membrane preparations, cells, dose-response)

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