Isolating Central Nervous System Tissues and Associated Meninges for the Downstream Analysis of Immune cells.

The central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of the brain and spinal cord and is enveloped by the meninges, membranous layers serving as a barrier between the periphery and the CNS. The CNS is an immunologically specialized site, and in steady state conditions, immune privilege is most evident in the CNS parenchyma. In contrast, the meninges harbor a diverse array of resident cells, including innate and adaptive immune cells.

Quantitative Measurement of Intrathecally Synthesized Proteins in Mice.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a fluid found in the brain and the spinal cord, is of great importance to both basic and clinical science. The analysis of the CSF protein composition delivers crucial information in basic neuroscience research as well as neurological diseases. One caveat is that proteins measured in CSF may derive from both intrathecal synthesis and transudation from serum, and protein analysis of CSF can only determine the sum of these two components.

Differential neuro-immune patterns in two clinically relevant murine models of multiple sclerosis.

Background: The mechanisms driving multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults, remain unknown despite extensive research. Especially puzzling are the underlying molecular processes behind the two major disease patterns of MS: relapsing-remitting and progressive. The relapsing-remitting course is exemplified by acute inflammatory attacks, whereas progressive MS is characterized by neurodegeneration on a background of mild-moderate inflammation.

Sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of two novel highly lipophilic anticancer drug candidates in rat plasma and tissues.

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for determination of two highly lipophilic anticancer drug candidates, LG1980 and GH501, in rat plasma and tissues (liver, kidney and femur bones). LG1980 and GH501 were extracted from rat plasma and tissue homogenates using liquid-liquid extraction. The method provided a linear range of 1.

Gas chromatography/negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry of transfluthrin in rat plasma and brain.

Rationale: Transfluthrin is a relatively non-toxic rapid-acting synthetic pyrethroid insecticide. It is widely used in household and hygiene products. A sensitive and accurate bioanalytical method is required for quantification of its concentration in plasma and its potential target organ, the brain for studies to assess its health effects and toxicokinetics in mammals.

Simultaneous determination of cis-permethrin and trans-permethrin in rat plasma and brain tissue using gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of cis-permethrin (cis-PERM) and trans-permethrin (trans-PERM) in small volumes (100μL) of rat plasma and brain homogenate was developed, using a liquid-liquid extraction for sample preparation and gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GCNCI-MS) for detection. Quantitation of trace levels of the insecticide in small volumes of biological samples is essential to support toxicokinetic studies in small animals. There are currently no validated methods in the literature for determining cis-PERM and trans- PERM in volumes as low as 100μL of rat plasma or brain homogenate.