Location: Centro di Biomedicina Sperimentale – CNR
Lab head: Prof. Alberto Giannoni
Contact: paola.tognini@santannapisa.it
Lab Team
Alberto Giannoni
Professore Associato
Health Science Interdisciplinary Center
Claudio Passino
Professore Ordinario
Health Science Interdisciplinary Center
Paola Tognini
Assistant Professor
Health Science Interdisciplinary Center
Lab Mission
The mission of the CHRONO Lab is to advance our understanding of the complex interactions between the brain, heart, and other physiological systems, focusing on the mechanisms of autonomic control and their role in health and disease. The lab conducts experimental studies on animal models (rodents), in collaboration with the SleepLab, which extends these findings to human subjects. By utilizing state-of-the art equipment for recording and analyzing biological signals—including ventilation, respiratory gases, transesophageal pressure, electroencephalography, and electromyography—the lab enables comprehensive research on breathing, autonomic control, and microneurographic recordings.
Devices
TSE PhenoMaster system
The TSE PhenoMaster system metabolic cage is an advanced device used in scientific research to monitor and analyze various physiological and behavioral parameters of mice. It is is ideal for studies related to pharmacology, nutrition, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other pathologies. It also include food, drink and body weight monitoring.
Main Features:
Metabolic Respiratory gas measurement (indirect calorimetry): The cage is equipped with advanced sensors that measure food and water intake, as well as the energy expended by the animal, by monitoring respiratory gases (O₂ and CO₂). These measurements allow for precise study of the mouse’s energy metabolism without disturbing the animal during the experiment.
Locomotor activity and physical exercise: The system also includes tools for behavioral monitoring, such as sensors to detect movement, sleep, and the animal’s position. This provides detailed data on daily activities, such as physical exercise, locomotion, and exploratory behavior.
Customization and Specific Applications: The system configuration can be customized to meet the specific needs of the study, allowing integration with other tools or devices (such as infusion pumps, EEG monitoring, etc.) for even more detailed information.
Data sheet: download
Note: to use the Stellar Telemetry System is necessary to have the official training and governmental documentation for mouse model handling, approved ehtical protocol. Contact Paola Tognini for interest in using the instrument.
Behavioral Test Battery instruments by Ugo Basile
The behavioural test battery is composed of three components:
–Y-Maze, to assess spatial memory and exploratory behavior, domains highly influenced by circadian regulation;
–Elevated Plus Maze, a gold standard for evaluating anxiety and exploratory drive, essential for modeling neuropsychiatric disturbances and testing chronopharmacological interventions;
–Open Field (44 × 44 cm), for standardized analysis of spontaneous locomotion, habituation, and anxiety-related behavior.
Data sheet: download
Note: The behavioral testing equipment may be used exclusively by trained and experienced researchers and only in mouse models, upon presentation of valid and official approval documentation for the research project issued by the Italian Ministry of Health.
EMKA VivoFlow+ Technology
LvivoFlow is an advanced plethysmograph system designed for measuring respiratory parameters in conscious, unrestrained animals, such as mice, rats, and guinea pigs. It provides a simple, proven method for studying respiration in freely moving subjects, with the ability to measure flow, volume, respiratory rate over long-duration experiments (up to 24 hours).
Key Features:
- No preliminary surgery required, ensuring minimal stress for the animal.
- Ideal for long-term, non-invasive respiration studies without interfering with the animal’s behavior.
- Simple setup: place the animal in the chamber and begin measurements.
- Real-time monitoring of parameters like frequency, inspiration time, volume, and flow.
- Detects bronchoconstriction and apnea events, providing detailed respiratory analysis.
- Includes cough detection through pressure fluctuation and sound track analysis.
- The system is comprised of a plethysmograph, a microphone, and a software analyzer for comprehensive data analysis.
The vivoFlow system is perfect for efficiently screening large numbers of animals while ensuring their comfort and well-being throughout extended studies.
Data sheet: download
Note: to use the Stellar Telemetry System is necessary to have the official training and governmental documentation for mouse model handling, approved ehtical protocol. Contact Paola Tognini if interested in using the instrument.
D1000 homogenizer by Merck Millipore
The instrument is intended o homogenize soft tissues (e.g. brain, liver). Minimum solution volume to be homogenized 200ul, maximum 800ul.
Data sheet: download
Note: Before approving the use of the instrument, the type of buffer for the homogenization and the experience of the researchers with this type of instruments will be evaluated.
Ultrasonic Vocalization (USV) System – Avisoft Bioacoustics
This advanced system allows precise recording and playback of ultrasonic vocalizations (2–200 kHz) under controlled conditions. The UltraSoundGate 116H acquisition interface, combined with a high-sensitivity microphone and advanced acoustic analysis software, enables detailed spectrographic visualization, parameter quantification, and automated signal classification.
Data sheet: download
Note: This equipment may be used exclusively by trained and experienced researchers and only in mouse models, upon presentation of valid and official approval documentation for the research project issued by the Italian Ministry of Health.