Equipment

The Shimadzu HPLC system is equipped with a high-sensitivity fluorescent detector. It is used for quantitative measurements of eNOS cofactors, and alternative measurements of free radicals from cells and tissues, with recent demands we have upgraded our HPLC system to include a UV detector and a temperature controlled Autosampler.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are often free radicals with unpaired electrons. Because they are very short-lived, it has been challenging to measure ROS from biological samples. The recently developed electron spin technology has made highly specific, quantitative and reproducible measurements of ROS possible. We have obtained an ESR for measurements of nitric oxide, superoxide and other ROS from live endotheliaal cells or blood vessels isolated from wild-type or genetically manipulated mice.

These metabolic cages from Oxymax enables real time analysis of spontaneous activity from individual mice using laser based technologies, as well as accurate collection of metabolic parameters including oxygen consumption, CO2 production, and water and food consumption of individual mice.