Multi-Scale Imaging Core

Indiana University Bloomington, Center for Cannabis, Cannabinoids, & Addiction

Multi-Scale Imaging Cores

Providing cutting edge imaging approaches to addiction researchers addressing unressolved, high impact questions in substance use disorder research.

Introduction to the MSIC

Addictive substances trigger plasticity at the molecular, cellular and circuit levels that manifest as persistent behavioral changes that may cause substance use disorders. Targeting these changes may lead to novel strategies for preventing or treating substance use disorders. However, our knowledge of the molecular changes, the cellular processes and the abnormal circuit activity patterns that underlie various aspects of substance use disorders including compulsion, loss of intake control, withdrawal, and relapse is rather limited. To facilitate a better understanding of the molecular to circuit level plasticity accompanying drug abuse, the C3A Multi-Scale Imaging Core supports center investigators, affiliates from the Midwest and beyond, and trainees at different career stages to acquire the conceptual and technical know-how, and to access state-of-the-art equipment for nanoscale molecular measurements, for microscale anatomical analysis of subcellular and cellular profiles and for mesoscale physiological imaging of brain circuits. The Multi-Scale Imaging Core provides unprecedented imaging opportunities to examine models of substance use disorders at multiple levels, including: (1) molecular and cellular level imaging with internationally unique cell-type- and subcellular compartment-specific correlated STORM super-resolution imaging, and its recently developed PharmacoSTORM extension for nanoscale pharmacology; (2) circuit level 2P imaging to examine selective neural circuits and cell-type-specific dynamic physiological changes among large cell populations.

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Disclaimer

Research and content found in this publication is supported by the National Institute On Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P30DA056410. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.