Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The research goals of neurobiologists at the University of Windsor include understanding the development, function and organization of the olfactory and auditory sensory systems as well as multisensory integration. By pairing neuroanatomical studies with neurophysiological and behavioral studies, these researchers are able to learn how sensory systems contribute to specific behaviours, to changes during the life cycle and to contaminant exposure.  The cryostat is essential for identifying the location of these neural pathways, specific cells in these sites, as well as the biochemical and molecular characteristics of these cells. Without a cyrostat for preparing tissues for neuroanatomical observations, this group will lack a key instrument that links form to function.  Other users of the new Windsor confocal microscope will also require cryo-sectioned tissue. The present cryostat has been a work-horse for fifteen years and is now not functioning. The research cryostat requested in this application will allow researchers to prepare high quality sections for analysis by confocal and brightfield microscopy.  The research cryostat is designed to rapidly freeze tissue in optimal condition and consistently prepare high-quality sections for further processing for light microscopy. This new instrument will become the keystone for researchers in Windsor during the next 15 years.