INSTITUTE
OF NEUROBIOLOGY
The Institute of Neurobiology of the University of Puerto
Rico Medical Sciences Campus is an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary
research facility. It is devoted to and equipped for the study
of excitable cells and the neurobiology systems formed by
them. In addition, the laboratory provides access to the rich
fauna and flora which inhabit the littoral waters and the
rain forests of Puerto Rico. All laboratory facilities are
open to cellular neurobiologists and to research workers including
physiologists, anatomists, biochemists, toxicologists, zoologists,
and others, both from the University of Puerto Rico and visiting
scientists from universities on the mainland and foreign countries.
Ongoing research includes studies of oscillating neuronal
circuits in lobster ganglia, the interactions between neurons
and glial cells in amphibians, excitation-contraction coupling
in invertebrate muscle, establishment of synapses between
identified neurons
in insects, gene expression in individual identified pyloric
neurons in lobsters calcium signaling in muscle, the nature
and neural control of ligament stiffening of the joints of
sea urchin spines, and the activity, synthesis and turnover
of the sodium pump in vertebrates and invertebrates.
Retinal projection pathways responsible for the transmission
of color information in the visual system, and the morphology
of retinal cells that preferentially respond to certain colors
are also under investigation. Molluscs are used to investigate
the roles of
neuropeptides as signaling molecules in the mediation and
modulation of behavior. The neurotoxic actions of compounds
isolated from tropical marine organisms, some of which are
implicated in the fish intoxication syndrome known as ciguatera,
are also studied at the cellular level.
The Institute is housed in a building overlooking the Atlantic
Ocean in Old San Juan. In addition to laboratories and equipment
for experimental research in morphology, including electron
microscopy and confocal microscopy, electrophysiology, tissue
culture, imaging of intracellular ions by fluorescence methods,
and neurochemistry. There are class and seminar rooms, staff
offices, and workshops. Guest rooms and kitchen facilities
are also available for visiting scientists.
Learn more about our research units:
|
