University of Louisville School of Medicine

5 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Nazarul Hasan¹, David Humphrey¹, Krista Riggs¹, Chuan Hu¹

¹Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

We have developed a cell fusion assay that quantifies SNARE-mediated membrane fusion events by activated expression of β-galactosidase.

Medicine

Controlled Cervical Laceration Injury in Mice

Yi Ping Zhang¹, Melissa J. Walker², Lisa B. E. Shields¹, Xiaofei Wang², Chandler L. Walker², Xiao-Ming Xu², Christopher B. Shields¹

¹Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare, ²Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine

A novel technique to create a reproducible in vivo model of cervical spinal cord laceration injury in the mouse is described. This technique is based on spine stabilization by fixation of the cervical facets and laceration of the spinal cord using an oscillating blade with an accuracy of ±0.01 mm.

Medicine

A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury

Melissa J. Walker^*1,2, Chandler L. Walker^*1,3, Y. Ping Zhang⁴, Lisa B. E. Shields⁴, Christopher B. Shields⁴, Xiao-Ming Xu^1,3

¹Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine, ²Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, ³Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, ⁴Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare

Vertebral stabilization is necessary for minimizing variability, and for producing consistent experimental spinal cord injuries. Using a customized stabilizing apparatus in conjunction with the NYU/MASCIS impactor device, we have demonstrated here the proper equipment and procedure for generating reproducible hemi-contusive cervical (C5) spinal cord injuries in adult rats.

Medicine

A Tissue Displacement-based Contusive Spinal Cord Injury Model in Mice

Xiangbing Wu^*1, Yi Ping Zhang^*2, Wenrui Qu¹, Lisa B. E. Shields², Christopher B. Shields^2,3, Xiao-Ming Xu¹

¹Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine, ²Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare, ³Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville

We introduce a tissue displacement-based contusive spinal cord injury model that can produce a consistent contusive spinal cord injury in adult mice.

Neuroscience

An In Vivo Duo-color Method for Imaging Vascular Dynamics Following Contusive Spinal Cord Injury

Chen Chen^1,2, Yi Ping Zhang³, Yan Sun^1,4, Wenhui Xiong¹, Lisa B. E. Shields³, Christopher B. Shields^3,5, Xiaoming Jin¹, Xiao-Ming Xu¹

¹Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, ²Program in Medical Neuroscience, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, ³Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare, ⁴Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, ⁵Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine

We introduce an in vivo imaging method using two different fluorescent dyes to track dynamic spinal vascular changes following a contusive spinal cord injury in adult Sprague-Dawley rats.