# Transmission Electron Microscopy Service for SPARC Consortium Investigators

> **NIH NIH OT2** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2021 · $246,487

## Abstract

Organ function may be modulated by stimulating peripheral activity and targeting, for instance,
peripheral nerves and autonomic ganglia. However, the detailed functional and anatomical organization is
not well understood for autonomic nerves, ganglia and organs involved with visceral functions. Significant
knowledge gaps exist with regards to the neural control of many organ functions, including those of the
heart, respiratory system, lower urinary tract, and gastro-intestinal system. An improved understanding of
the various components of neural circuitries and innervation of peripheral organs is needed in order to
provide improved modeling and design of devices to allow for optimal modulation of select organ functions.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allows for the identification of the fine structure of neural tissues
to characterize, for instance, axonal composition and myelination, organization of neural circuitry in
autonomic ganglia, and innervation of autonomic targets.
 The proposed studies will aim at establishing a TEM service for investigators supported by the
Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) consortium.
 A total of 6 SPARC-funded projects, which include 7 SPARC-affiliated investigator laboratories, with
defined needs for TEM studies have been identified. The projects include studies on the autonomic control
of the heart, brain-gut interactions, hypoglossal nerve-influences on respiration, lower urinary tract function,
neuro-endocrine regulation of glucose, and modeling of vagal nerve functions. TEM studies will include
detailed characterization of myelinated and unmyelinated axons in visceral and somatic nerves as well as
organization of autonomic ganglia, and potential synaptic regulation of endocrine functions. Studies will be
performed using rodent, large mammal, and human tissues to allow for interspecies comparisons. Sex as a
biological variable will also be included in the studies. The TEM service will work closely with each
participating SPARC laboratory and provide advice on tissue harvesting and preservation as well as
perform tissue processing and embedding of tissues in plastic resin, semi-thin and ultrathin sectioning for
ultrastructural studies, TEM of nervous tissues, pre- and post-embedding immuno-EM studies, quantitative
analysis of nerves, ganglia, neural circuits, and synaptic structures, customization of TEM protocols to
accommodate project specific needs, and interpretation of ultrastructure and quantitative TEM data.
 It is expected that the proposed TEM studies will add value to SPARC-funded investigations and
augment interpretability of functional and modeling studies as well as provide critical ultrastructural data for
an evidence-driven approach to the development of new and improved neuro-modulatory strategies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10348802
- **Project number:** 3OT2OD026585-02S2
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** LEIF A HAVTON
- **Activity code:** OT2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $246,487
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-03-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10348802

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10348802, Transmission Electron Microscopy Service for SPARC Consortium Investigators (3OT2OD026585-02S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10348802. Licensed CC0.

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