Cocaine BioBank
We provide a comprehensive biological tissue bank originating from outbred rats (Heterogeneous Stock rats) that have been characterized as vulnerable or resistant to cocaine addiction.
Samples are available on a cost-recovery basis for nonprofit institutions and include a complete behavioral and genetic analysis.
The Cocaine BioBank bank includes:
whole brains, brain regions, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, ovary, testis, adrenals, feces, colon, urine, blood samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Additional organs may be requested.
Samples are available under three different conditions to maximize compatibility with a wide range of applications, including the generation of iPSC lines (slow freezing/LN2), histology/neuroanatomy (perfused), and molecular biology (snap-frozen).
Samples are available at three time points:
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Before exposure to cocaine (urine, feces, blood)
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After cocaine Intoxication: after 3h of cocaine self-administration.
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Acute withdrawal (18 h)
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Protracted abstinence (~4-5 weeks)
Behavioral and Genetic Analysis
We provide comprehensive behavioral and genetic analysis of rats with a history of chronic cocaine use based on state-of-the-art techniques.
The goal of our consortium is to identify gene variants that are associated with increased vulnerability to compulsive cocaine use by performing Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) in behaviorally characterized rats.
The strategy is to generate new data in rats by establishing a large behavioral screening program using standard operating procedures aimed at reducing nonspecific behavioral variability associated with differences in operant training, learning, drug priming, stress, food restriction, and circadian cycle.