Neuroscience Tools

Our deep experience supports a full suite of behavioral techniques to cover the key neuroscience disease domains of cognition, mood disorders, psychosis, and neurodegeneration. Beyond these stand-alone services, our broad expertise allows for flexible, customized combinations of behavioral assessments with real-time in vivo microdialysis and/or EEG monitoring. By simultaneously monitoring behaviors and neurochemical changes in the same animals, we offer added value and efficiency by reducing the number of animal samples and the need for multiple experiments. We offer multiple behavioral tests in the following area...

• Anxiety/Depression
• Cognition
• Schizophrenia
• Neurodegeneration/Movement Disorders
• Inflammation Models
• Behavioral Profiling

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• Multi-electrode Array (MEA): Multi-electrode array (MEA) electrophysiology studies are readily utilized by scientists at Charles River to probe neural networks in brain slices, tissues, and cellular cultures. Benefits of using multielectrode arrays include the ability to multiplex experiments and to record field potentials from a neural population versus probing a single neuron as with traditional patch clamp electrophysiology.

• Brain Slice Electrophysiology: Simultaneous recordings using multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) in cultured and acutely-dissociated brain slices is an emerging technique in the field of network electrophysiology. As one of the few labs in the world that can measure from multiple brain slices at the same time, Charles River works with various genetically altered animals to help you study the pharmacological effect of substances on synaptic transmission in slices or other specific brain region

• Patch Clamp: Manual patch-clamp electrophysiology allows for high resolution recordings from a single neuron. Detailed physiological and pharmacological inquiries can be addressed with this technique. Our team of experienced neuroscience electrophysiologists have the most advanced manual and automated patch-clamp rigs to date.

• Quantitative EEG & EMG: Charles River scientists typically use quantitative EEG and EMG in animal models together or independently based on the scientific study of interest. One common request for monitoring both brain and muscle activity is in the detection of sleep-wake states, seizure disorders, or neurological movement disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

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Fine motor kinematic analysis is an automated and high-precision system to quantitatively measure changes in gait and balance that are clinical endpoints in movement disorders. This system can be used to study walking, climbing and wading movements in animal models of neurological diseases.

At Charles River, we use a novel automated and high-precision system, the MotoRater, to successfully analyze fine motor kinematics in mouse models of movement disorders including Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS studies, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease studies, Batten disease and other neurological and rare diseases. Fine motor kinematic analysis is a highly translational tool as it measures similar parameters in rodents compared to human patients.

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• Conventional Microdialysis: Microdialysis probes are used to measure local release of neurotransmitters, neurometabolites, and other small endogenous substances in freely moving or anesthetized rodents. At Charles River our scientists are experts at Microdialysis and we are able to measure multiple different molecule types to support your neuroscience research.

• MetaQuant Dialysis – Pharmacokinetics: Our MetaQuant probe provides truly quantitative dialysis, which saves time and money in the process. Typically, free-drug concentrations in tissue are calculated by measuring the total drug concentration, then subtracting the bound-drug, based on an in vitro protein binding calculation. Our proprietary MetaQuant probe allows for accurate measurement of actual free-drug concentrations, vs. inferred concentration based on standard calculations.

• Multiple Probes (PK/PD) Probes and Combined Services: Our deep experience with microdialysis enables a wide range of options for combining various probes across a broad array of applications. We can customize assays by combining PK or PD microdialysis techniques, or combining microdialysis with other methods such as behavior or EEG measurements. 

• Push-Pull Microdialysis – Proteins / Peptides / Antibodies: For recovery of larger molecules, push-pull microdialysis uses larger pore sizes in the dialysis membrane. Compared to conventional dialysis, push-pull allows the measurement of larger endogenous proteins, inflammatory mediators, peptides and exogenously applied antibodies.

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Neurochemistry: Bioanalysis Services

Accuracy and sensitivity are critical parameters for neurotransmitter detection. Our state-of-the-art equipment allows us to offer novel analytical techniques, including SymDaq, our proprietary derivatizing agent, to support analysis of low concentrations of multiple neurotransmitters simultaneously in a single run. Additionally, we can develop novel study designs based on your specific needs for sample preparation, quantification, and analysis.

Electrochemistry: Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Beyond traditional electrophysiology studies, Charles River provides a unique electrochemistry platform called fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). FSCV is used to monitor the release of dopamine following electrical stimulation in the brains of animal models. It is a great solution when you need to track very rapid changes in dopamine concentrations. FSCV utilizes a carbon fiber microelectrode to apply a voltage which results in current changes of the surrounding environment.

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• Functional Ultrasound Imaging: Functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) is a novel preclinical neuroimaging tool that relies upon real-time, non-invasive, and highly sensitive doppler-based imaging of the brain. fUS technology provides ultrafast spatial and temporal resolution images and can be used for acute or chronic characterization of disease models, efficacy and target engagement studies in rodents

• MRI Services: Preclinical in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve your efficiency and smooth the path from laboratory concept to commercial product. With more than 70 years of in-house collective expertise with MRI modalities, our team can help you to design and execute studies that meet your needs. We offer multiple types of MRI including

  • Anatomical MRI
  • Diffusion MRI
  • Functional MRI & Pharmacological MRI
  • Hemodynamic MRI
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

• Nuclear Imaging Services: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is a valuable tool in neuroscience and oncology research studies to measure brain functionality and metabolism and is increasingly being used as a preclinical endpoint to predict clinical success. PET imaging is also used to monitor metabolic activity in brain tumors and can be performed with CT to get combined data on radioligand accumulation and anatomic localization. Charles River’s expertise with small animal imaging and associated ex vivo techniques, provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art toolkit to evaluate the pathophysiology and drug effects in animal models of neurological disease.

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Touchscreen testing is a method to perform simple and complex cognitive neuroscience measurements in small animals and is very similar to human assessment tests supporting seamless transition of endpoints to the clinic. This unique method available at Charles River is used to detect small changes in learning and memory that may not be detectable by standard maze tests. It is a valuable tool to test therapeutics for diseases associated with cognitive changes such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Touchscreen Testing Services