West Virginia University Health Sciences Center

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

The ex vivo Isolated Skeletal Microvessel Preparation for Investigation of Vascular Reactivity

Joshua T. Butcher¹, Adam G. Goodwill¹, Jefferson C. Frisbee¹

¹Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, West Virginia University

An ex vivo preparation is described for isolation of the largest gracilis muscle resistance arterioles for interrogation of both vascular responses to vasoactive stimuli and the assessment of basic structural properties via passive wall mechanics.

Behavior

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Jefferson C. Frisbee¹, Steven D. Brooks¹, Shyla C. Stanley¹, Alexandre C. d'Audiffret²

¹Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, ²Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Center for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center

The unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) protocol is a validated method for studying behavioral and physiological changes associated with chronic stress and depressive symptoms. Eight weeks of imposition of the UCMS protocol induces behavioral changes and poor health outcomes in rodents of either gender.

Immunology and Infection

Neonatal Mouse Bone Marrow Isolation and Preparation of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages

Madhavi Annamanedi¹, Jordan K. Vance¹, Cory M. Robinson^1,2

¹Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, ²Vaccine Development Center, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center

This protocol describes a non-enzymatic and straightforward method for isolating 7-9-day-old neonatal mouse bone marrow cells and generating differentiated macrophages using a supernatant of L929 cells as a source of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The bone marrow-derived macrophages were further analyzed for surface antigens F4/80, CD206, CD11b, and functional competency.