Preclinical research

Applications of microdialysis in preclinical research and drug discovery require a unique combination of highly specialized skills in microsurgery, stereotaxic surgery and in vivo handling protocols for small rodents, as well as, knowledge in neuroanatomy and pharmacology of major neurotransmitter systems.

		Microdialysis protocols on anesthetized or awake rats and mice "Proof-of-principle" studies, monitoring neurotransmitters and other surrogate markers, PK/PD studies, drug delivery through BBB, targeted bioavailability. All microdialysis experiments carried out with simultaneous recordings of locomotor activity.
		Disease models Behavioral tests in rodent (rat, mouse, transgenic animals) models of psychiatric, neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders: Schizophrenia, depression, ADHD, drug abuse liability, anxiety, learning and memory dysfunction, epilepsy, Parkinson´s disease, Alzheimer´s disease, Huntington´s disease, traumatic brain injury, liver encephalopathy, diabetes, immunodeficient models.
		Microsurgery, stereotaxic surgery on small rodents Microsurgery at aseptic conditions. Intraventricular, intravenous injection/infusion cannulae including microdialysis probes, syringe minipump-based continuous/discontinuous drug infusions for up to 4 weeks, Alzet osmotic pumps. Sampling CSF.
		Lesion models of neurodegenerative diseases. 6-OHDA, MPTP-lesion models of Parkinson´s disease. 192IgG-saporin lesions of cholinergic neurons. Ibotenic acid lesions.
		Translational capabilities In partnership with Preclinical Research Center, Lexington, University of Kentucky, we offer PK/PD studies on NHPs to be designed on a unified experimental and bioanalytical platform.
		Pharmacokinetics and drug brain delivery Dual- or Triple microdialysis - PK profiles of unbound drug concentrations in microdialysates, blood and brain compartments. Targeted drug delivery through the BBB. LC-MS/MS method development and validation for measuring drugs and test compounds. PD profiles - effects of drugs on neurotransmitter release, uptake and metabolism.