Join us at the SOT Meeting!
Recent advances in Litron's MicroFlow technology will
be highlighted in three posters at this year's Society
of Toxicology Meeting, March 16 through March 20, in
Seattle, Washington. We hope to see you there!
[more info]
Litron Receives Grant to Miniaturize In Vitro
MicroFlow
Litron has been awarded a Phase II SBIR Grant from the
National Cancer Institute to continue our work with
In Vitro MicroFlow. The objectives are to reduce
the amount of compound required, increase sample throughput,
and show efficacy by testing a large number of compounds.
To support this work, Litron has acquired a new flow
cytometer as well as a robotic liquid handler.
[more info]
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MicroFlow User SpotLite
Measuring Micronuclei at Chernobyl
Dr. Brenda Rodgers, Assistant Professor in the Department
of Biological Sciences and The Center for Environmental
Radiation Studies at Texas Tech University, has conducted
research in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone since 1997.
While investigating the genetic effects of exposure
to radiation contamination, Dr. Rodgers originally used
the micronucleus (MN) assay as a marker for clastogenesis
in native species of rodents living in the region.
 Early
studies, employing the MN assay, generated data by extremely
labor and time intensive manual scoring of blood smears
for micronuclei. In later studies, she moved the laboratory
model into the field (see photo) in order to assess
the effects of chronic exposure to ionizing radiation
on well-characterized model systems (inbred laboratory
strains of Mus and transgenics). Laboratory mice
were housed in environmental enclosures and exposed
to varying doses and dose rates of radiation in the
Chernobyl Zone.
With the development of the flow-cytometry-based (in
vivo) MicroFlow® Kits, Dr. Rodgers' research team was
able to increase sample sizes and generate more robust
data sets due to the ability to score large numbers
of cells in short periods of time with increased reliability
and transferability of data across and between experiments.
Currently, samples from multi-generational laboratory
exposure experiments (now in the 3rd generation) are
being analyzed for MN frequencies. Using the MN assay
as a quick assessment of genomic integrity, individuals
and sub-groups will be identified for more in depth
analysis of the mechanisms of MN induction using FISH
and transcriptomics.
During the summer of 2008, Dr. Rodgers' team will return
to Ukraine for additional field experiments and will
be working with Litron in an attempt to adapt the MicroFlow®
kits for wild-caught species of small rodents. Dr. Rodgers
was recently filmed by the History Channel while working
in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and is featured in the
documentary, "Life After People". Since 2004, her research
has expanded to include human health and environmental
assessments of radiation contamination resulting from
the destruction of former nuclear facilities in Iraq.
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