Rash Laboratory

Laboratory Personnel

• Dr. John E. Rash, Ph.D.
• Dr. Naomi Kamasawa, Ph.D.
• Ms. Kim G. V. Davidson, M. A.
• Mr. Thomas Yasumura, M. A.

Full Archived Articles (pdf)

Collaborators

 

Contact Us

Colorado State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
     & Biomedical Sciences-Anatomy
Department of Biomedical Sciences
1617 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1617

Room: W-11,
Building: Anatomy/Zoology
Phone: (970) 491-5606
FAX: (970) 491-7907

Image Disclaimer

Images on this site are for the sole purpose of review by authorized individuals. No other use is permitted. For further information about images please contact Dr. John E. Rash.

This site is managed by Thomas Yasumura. Questions and problems please contact Thomas Yasumura

Research: Membrane Proteins in the CNS

Welcome to the Rash Laboratory. Research conducted in this laboratory covers four broad areas:

1. Immunocytochemical identification of gap junction connexin proteins in neurons and glia in the central nervous system of vertebrates
2. Immunogold identification of ion channels and aquaporin water channels in neurons and glia
3. Colocalization of accessory proteins in gap junctions and chemical synapses
4. FRIL (freeze fracture immunolabel) localization of scaffolding and accessory "PDZ" proteins to gap junctions

Current research centers on the several roles of gap junctions between neurons and between glia cells. In addition to conventional chemical synaptic transmission, the recent discovery of "mixed" (chemical plus electrical) synapses and of pure electrical synapses in the central nervous systems of adult mammals suggest that there are additional or alternative pathways to chemical synapses for intercellular information exchange in the central nervous center. For example, we have recently shown that connexin36 (Cx36) is present in neuronal but not in glia gap junctions, whereas, Cx30, Cx32, and Cx43 are present only in glia gap junctions.

In our studies of aquaporin water channels in glia cells, we use confocal microscopy and immunocytochemistry, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and immunogold labeling to correlate structure and function at the subcellular and molecular levels. These studies revealed that "square arrays" in astrocyte and ependymocyte plasma membranes correspond to aquaporin4 water channels.

Cover Page Publications (click to see details)

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