Rash Laboratory

Laboratory Personnel

• Dr. John E. Rash, Ph.D.
• Dr. C. Sue Furman, Ph.D.
• Ms. Kim G. V. Davidson, M. S.
• Mr. Thomas Yasumura, M. A.

Current Publications (pdf)

Archived Publications (pdf)

Book Chapter (pdf)

COLLABORATORS

FRIL Training Course

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

Greetings and welcome to Dr. Rash's Laboratory.

Research conducted in this laboratory involves three 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. FRIL (freeze-fracture immunogold labeling) 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 pathways to or alternatives to chemical synapses for intercellular information exchange in the central nervous center. For example, we have recently shown that connexin36 (Cx36) and Cx45 are present in neuronal but not in glia gap junctions, whereas, Cx26, Cx30, and Cx43 are present only in astrocyte gap junctions and Cx32 and Cx47 are present only in oligodendrocyte gap junctions..

In our studies of aquaporin water channels in astrocytes and ependymocytes, 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"of intramembrane proteins in astrocyte and ependymocyte plasma membranes correspond to aquaporin4 water channels, which are essential for water homeostasis in the brain and spinal cord.

Cover Page Publications (click to see details)

The images below link to full size views of the image(s)