Neurotoxicology and Neuroscience

ToxStrategies consulting scientists have unique and extensive experience in the fields of neurotoxicology, neuropharmacology, and neuroscience. With our diverse experience, we can help design pre-clinical neurotoxicology protocols and oversee in vivo studies. Furthermore, our experts can aid with the interpretation of pre-clinical neurological data and help characterize the potential neurotoxicity of a drug.

Selected examples of ToxStrategies’ consulting services include:

Electrophysiology and in vitro assays

  • GPCR binding
  • Protein expression
  • Neuronal cell function (e.g., dopaminergic, cAMP, MAPK, arachidonic acid pathways)
  • Whole-cell and patch-clamp electrophysiology
  • Single-channel electrophysiology

Neuropharmacology

  • Allosteric modulation of ionotropic receptors
  • Activation and alteration of dopaminergic systems by drugs of abuse (e.g., cocaine and alcohol)
  • Behavioral studies (e.g., rewarding and reinforcing effects of drugs; effects of drugs on learning and memory)

Neurotoxicology and CNS Safety Pharmacology

  • CNS safety pharmacology (rats and nonhuman primates)
  • Juvenile toxicology studies with neurobehavioral endpoints
  • In vivo neurotoxicology study design
  • Advise on CNS histopathology and special immunohistochemical staining (e.g., GFAP, Iba-1, silver staining)

Specific Diseases

  • Drug addiction
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Rare neurological disorders

Neurotoxicity Associated with Environmental Exposures

  • Heavy metals (e.g., manganese)
  • Pesticides (e.g., pyrethroids, organophosphates)
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

For more information about ToxStrategies’ consulting  services, please contact us.