American University

5 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis

Katie L. DeCicco-Skinner¹, Gervaise H. Henry¹, Christophe Cataisson², Tracy Tabib¹, J. Curtis Gwilliam¹, Nicholas J. Watson¹, Erica M. Bullwinkle¹, Lauren Falkenburg¹, Rebecca C. O'Neill¹, Adam Morin¹, Jonathan S. Wiest²

¹Department of Biology, American University, ²Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH

The tube formation assay is a fast, quantifiable method for measuring in vitro angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are combined with conditioned media and plated on basement membrane extract. Tube formation occurs within hours and newly formed tubules easily quantified.

Genetics

Novel Sequence Discovery by Subtractive Genomics

Kathryn C. Asalone¹, Megan M. Nelson¹, John R. Bracht¹

¹Biology Department, American University

The purpose of this protocol is to use a combination of computational and bench research to find novel sequences that cannot be easily separated from a co-purifying sequence, which may be only partially known.

Chemistry

Gold Nanoparticle Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Enhanced Neurochemical Detection

Sanuja Mohanaraj¹, Pauline Wonnenberg¹, Brianna Cohen¹, He Zhao¹, Matthew R. Hartings¹, Shouzhong Zou¹, Douglas M. Fox¹, Alexander G. Zestos^1,2

¹Department of Chemistry, American University, ²Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University

In this study, we modify carbon-fiber microelectrodes with gold nanoparticles to enhance the sensitivity of neurotransmitter detection.

Behavior

The Three-Chamber Choice Behavioral Task using Zebrafish as a Model System

Cassie J. Rowe^1,2, Mikayla Crowley-Perry^1,3, Elizabeth McCarthy¹, Terry L. Davidson^2,4, Victoria P. Connaughton^1,2

¹Department of Biology, American University, ²Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, ³Department of Chemistry, American University, ⁴Department of Neuroscience, American University

We present a behavioral chamber designed to assess cognitive performance. We provide data showing that once acquired, zebrafish remember the task 8 weeks later. We also show that hyperglycemic zebrafish have altered cognitive performance, indicating that this paradigm is applicable to studies assessing cognition and memory.

Neuroscience

Alternate Immersion in Glucose to Produce Prolonged Hyperglycemia in Zebrafish

Elizabeth McCarthy¹, Cassie J. Rowe^1,2, Mikayla Crowley-Perry^1,3, Victoria P. Connaughton¹

¹Department of Biology, American University, ²Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, ³Department of Chemistry, American University

This protocol noninvasively induces hyperglycemia in zebrafish for up to 8 weeks. Using this protocol, an in-depth study of the adverse effects of hyperglycemia can be made.