Our Techniques and Approaches
The Moehle Lab employs a number of cutting edge electrophysiology, optical neuroscience, fiber photometery, behavioral, and pharmacology techniques and tools to address our questions. We are always interested in bringing in new techniques into the lab that can best address our question, and are open to collaborations with other labs at UF and elsewhere.
Electrophysiology
We use whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology and field techniques to examine a number of components of individual neurons, synaptic strength, and neurotransmitter release. The Moehle Lab currently has 2 complete electrophysiology rigs capable of most ex vivo electrophysiology techniques.
Fiber Photometry
We use fiber photometry to examine neurotransmitter release and neuronal activity in awake behaving animals, and directly tie these events to changes in mouse behavior. We currently have an Rz10x Fiber Photometry system from TDT capable of recording from 2 animals in 2 colors simultaneously.
Behavioral Monitoring
To examine the consequences of pharmacological manipulation or the consequence of genetic mutations, we use a number of behavioral techniques to fully characterize the motor, gait, and cognitive behaviors of mice.
Optogenetics
Optogenetics allows for the activation or silencing of specfic neurons or pathways using specific wavelengths of light. This can be used in vivo to study the role of individual neurons or brain nuclei on behavior or ex vivo in electrophysiology.
DREADDs
Like optogenetics, designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) can be used to activate or inhibit specific neurons or groups of neurons. Instead of using light, these modified receptors are activated by inert small molecules.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
We use a number of molecular and biochemical techniques to understand the physiological changes in our different model systems. These include IHC, western blotting, RT-PCR, PCR, viral mediated gene transfer, design of AAV vectors, and RNAscope. The Moehle Lab has access to a number of high end microscopes and other imaging equipment