Overall, each link below is reachable from the main page as well. The buttons of the main page are listed at the end of each linked document.
Warning!!!!! Figures and diagrams should not be used without permission from the publishers of articles and/or text books where they may appear. If you are not sure, inquire?
Research in my lab (Research Accomplishments) includes light microscopy,
electron microscopy and video imaging techniques (color thresholding). Visitors can
obtain a list of most recent
publications here. Recent results from this lab
(Research Interest) showed
that S100Beta is differentially expressed in neurons of the two ganglia that form
different branches of the eighth cranial nerve, suggesting a differential role that could be
related to the neural plasticity of neurons in each ganglion. A Spanish ()
summary of inner ear auditory and equilibrium basics is also available. In addition samples from a Spanish-English collection "A Dictionary of the Idiomatic Expressions of Spanish America" are included through this link.
Hair cells and neurons.
Chick inner EAR hair cells images and neurons images of structures that convey neural
stimuli to the brain are available. Some of these images are from
immunohistochemically stained tissues whereas others are from standard stains. These
images show immunoexpression of a neurotrophic and a neurotrasmitter molecule in
similar areas of the inner ear, suggesting colocalization of both antigens in the same
structure. The inner ear houses a large number of tissue types that require different
molecules to function.
Otoconia. Crystals of the inner ear called ear dust
(otoconia images). The otoconia images
illustrate the existence of a central core in otoconia, the organization of the organic
matrix fibrils in fixed tissues and a possible sequestration of calcium in potassium
pyroantimonate stained views. Otoconia are made of calcium carbonate (the same
material that is found in rocks), but in the inner ear the rock material is mixed with a
gellatinous organic substance to form truly organic crystals! I hope you knew you
were walking around with rocks side by side your brain.
Otoconia have for a long
time fascinated scientists, and to date pose a paradox and challenge: the
crystallographic projections of intact mammalian and avian otoconia (pure calcite) do
not match the ultrastructural packing of the fibrils that make the crystals. Most importantly, they are essential for detection of gravity and may be important variable in the development of motion sickness.
A collaboration with my colleague Robert F. Garry
from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Tulane involves retroviruses
and autoimmunity. The images were obtained from HUT78 (H9) H I V infected cells, and are included here for your
information. The HIV images illustrate alterations of the plasma membrane at the point
of contact with the viruses, suggesting that membrane alterations alone account for the
damage that HIV induces to the cells it infects. For details of retrovirus research, please
visit the Garry Lab home
page from where you can visit the most important retrovirus pages on the web.
Also, by visiting Garry's page you can request additional information about retroviruses
and autoimmune disorders.
The work in Fermin's lab for the last 5 years has been funded primarily by the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Funds from NASA. Additional support from the NIH as Co-PI was often available.
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