Human Performance Laboratory

Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory

The Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory is a 1,092 square foot laboratory that houses a broad spectrum of advanced equipment. It is principally designed for physiological, cellular, and molecular research.

Analytical Equipment Array for Analyses

The Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory contains several analytical instruments including a gel electrophoresis system and densitometer dedicated for LDL subclass analysis; a spectrophotometer, osmometer, multiplex system, fluorimeter, glucose/lactate analyzer, electrolyte analyzer, and SPE vacuum manifold; western, incubator, and blot analysis systems; ELISA plate reader and data reduction system; an analytical chromatography system, gamma counter and data reduction system; densitometer and gel image analysis system; and an online nitric oxide analyzer for analysis of nitric oxide subclasses.

Sample storage is available with 3 ultra low (-90℃) freezers and four regular refrigerators. A Speed Vac refrigerated-acid trap and centrifuge system is used for sample processing along with temperature controlled water baths, a refrigerated high-speed centrifuge, a microcentrifuge, various micropipettes, multi-channel pipettes, and repeat pipettes for appropriate sample delivery systems. Appropriate biohazard and chemical storage supply systems are integrated into the laboratory design.

Image Analysis Laboratory

The imaging analysis laboratory is a 350 square foot room dedicated to image analyses ranging from cell imaging to MRI analyses. Tissue preparation instruments include a Reichert Histostat cryostat/microtome for tissue sectioning, a Nikon optiphot microscope and a Kodak MDS 290 microscope documentation system, a Molecular Devices VERSAmax microplate reader and washer, a Kodak EDAS electrophoresis documentation and analysis system, a Microtek ArtixScan 1100 scan system, a iMac computer with internet connections, a data storage system and image software (e.g., NIH image system and Kodak 1D) for analyses. It also has available a Quantimetrix Lipoprint system for the analysis of lipoprotein subclasses.

Endocrine Analyses

The laboratory performs radioactive analyses using an online data computer system with data reduction systems for a multi-well gamma counter. The laboratory also includes radioactive sample and assay refrigerators, a fume hood, and a radioactive work area. Analytical instruments have been introduced into the Exercise Biochemistry laboratory, including The Luminex® 200™ and the Beckman/Coulter High Performance Liquid Chromatography system with both diode and ESA electrochemical detection systems. These two analytical instruments enable the Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory to study cellular and molecular signaling, genotyping, cardiac markers, cytokines, growth factors, endocrine systems, along with chemical separation, purification, identification and quantification.