CYCERON, Caen, France

Cerebral Imaging Centre For Research On Neuroscience

[Scientific staff | Publications within DiMI | References]

Group Description

Cyceron is a 4,500 m2 facility made of a Cyclotron and laboratories for chemistry, cell biology and molecular biology, of animal facility, of PET laboratories.
Radiochemistry: The original Cyclotron has been replaced in 2002 by an IBA Cyclone 18/9 allowing the production of carbon-11, fluorine-18, fluoride-18, nitrogen-13 and oxygen-15. A Zymark remote control synthesis robot is also available for fluorine-18 labelling. A new clean room has been installed with 3 hot cells for production and sterilization of radio-pharmaceuticals following the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice). Analysis equipment includes 6 HPLC, 5 semi-preparative HPLC, 2 Gas Chromatography, and a Thin layer Chromatography recorder (Instantimager, Packard).
Molecular and cellular biology: Molecular and cellular biology laboratories (500 m2) are at this time located outside of the Cyceron campus. Implemented techniques include cerebral cell cultures such as neurons, astrocytes and microglia from rodents and humans, calcium imaging, confocal microscopy, real time PCR, reporter genes, cell transfection, mutagenesis, immunocytochemistry, and immunoblotting.
Animal facility: The animal holding facilities within the GIP Cyceron are of the standard (low-risk) category, including facilities for baboons (Papio anubis), marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and rodents. Animal facilities are associated to laboratories for animal experimentation.
PET cameras: The original CEA-LETI time-of flight PET camera has been replaced in 1995 by a SIEMENS ECAT-HR+ high-resolution 3D PET machine that is in current use. A second PET camera (SIEMENS ART machine, Advanced Rotating Tomograph) was acquired in 2002 and is mostly used for the FDG studies in oncology.
MRI: There is no MR machine installed on site yet. Thanks to the financial help of the Regional Council, Cyceron has access to the 1.5T MR machines, one of which is equipped with the fast gradients and imaging sequences required to perform FMRI. At present, fMRI studies can be performed once a week.