21 Jun Stella Coe- UCSD George Lab- Week 2

Monday, June 15

This week started with what seemed like a simple cleaning task, but ended up being a three-hour deep cleaning of the operant conditioning boxes. The previous cohort of rats had just entered a prolonged abstinence period, meaning that they were abstaining from any drug and they would no longer be participating in behavioral testing, so every box had to be completely sanitized before the next cohort could begin. We made quick work of it, though, and had some fun while doing it. We met an undergrad intern named Layna, and the three of us danced and sang while scrubbing and sweeping away.

Layna is incredibly kind, and we had lunch together while talking about school, research, and our love for neuroscience. Everyone I’ve met in the George Lab has been so welcoming, which has made working in a research lab much less intimidating than I expected.

Later in the day, I learned how to make catheters for the rats. These catheters are surgically implanted and allow researchers to safely administer oxycodone or other substances without repeatedly injecting the animals.

This is me holding up a catheter that I made.

Once the catheters are made, they’re fitted with tiny protective caps that we call “hoodsies.” The hoodsies keep the catheter sterile between experiments and prevent debris or bacteria from entering the line, helping protect the animals. It was surprisingly meticulous work that required patience and precision.

Here are just a couple of the hoodsies that I assembled.

After getting off work a little early, I soaked up the San Diego sunshine, finished some PE assignments, went for a walk and jog, and made salmon rice bowls for dinner- they were delicious.

Tuesday, June 16

Today was a lot of rinse and repeat. I continued making catheters, I connected the pieces together, and tested each catheter with water to make sure there weren’t any leaks or blockages. Every catheter has to function perfectly before it’s ever used in a rat, because even a tiny problem could affect the results or the health of the animal.

Even though the work wasn’t flashy, I enjoyed learning a new skill, and assembling the functional catheters was incredibly satisfying.

By the time I got home, I was completely exhausted. I ended up falling asleep in the hammock outside before dinner and spent some quality time with the pets, Patillas and Goose. Zoe made an amazing chicken dinner with coconut rice, and we all spent the evening hanging out together.

Wednesday, June 17

Today was one of my favorite days so far because I got to see baby rats. They were so cute!!! It’s amazing how tiny they are compared to the adult rats we usually work with. Baby rats open their eyes at around two weeks old, begin weaning from their mothers around three to four weeks, and grow incredibly quickly. Although laboratory rats only live about two to three years, they develop much faster than humans, making them valuable models for studying development and disease.

I also helped with another round of Von Frey testing during the rats’ first week of abstinence. The Von Frey test measures sensitivity by gently pressing calibrated fibers against the rat’s paw until a withdrawal response occurs. Comparing these responses before, during, and after abstinence helps researchers understand how chronic oxycodone exposure changes pain sensitivity and withdrawal symptoms over time.

Later, Kaila and I worked in the Skaggs building while she analyzed mouse brain sections. While she worked, I assembled more hoodsies for future catheter surgeries. Since the work is repetitive, we put on Titanic in the background (one of our favorite movies).

I am making hoodsies of the left; Kaila is analyzing mouse brains on the right.

Later that afternoon, Selene (Kaila’s mentor) gave us a mini tour around campus. We stopped by Target (where I got my lovely weighted stuffed dolphin named Banjo) and the UCSD Bookstore before heading back to the lab, and it was nice getting to see more of the campus beyond the buildings where I work.

Thursday, June 18

Today continued much like yesterday with a combination of Von Frey testing and making hoodsies.

While working, Sonja explained some challenges with ethanol studies. The data was not coming back as expected. The technology that measures ethanol content in a rat’s blood may have an inaccurate baseline, skewing the data. This opened my eyes to the amount of meticulous accuracy that is required to ensure that we are collecting accurate data.

At the end of the day, Zoe, Kaila, and I had a fun little adventure. We walked nearly thirty minutes to get boba and Mexican food and tagged on a                  Five Below trip. Naturally, I came home with more than I intended—including a giant tub of putty and Kaila’s lovely Trow Bolton shirt. That evening, everyone gathered outside to roast marshmallows and make s’mores, which was the perfect way to end another busy day.

Kaila’s prized Troy Bolton shirt

Friday, June 19 – Juneteenth

Since the lab was closed for Juneteenth, we had a day to rest and restore. I finally got to sleep in, which felt amazing after several early mornings.

Zoe, Kaila, and I still made it to the gym in the morning, and afterward, I accidentally fell asleep in the hammock again, which might be becoming my favorite place to recharge.

Later that afternoon, Liliana arrived at the house. We helped her get settled and made some watermelon and strawberry juice, and later we did a little shopping and grabbed Chick-fil-A for dinner.

Saturday, June 20

Today we picked up Ellie and Belle from the airport before making a massive Costco run to stock the house.

That evening, we cooked a family dinner together and finished the night with another beautiful sunset at the beach. As much as I’m learning in the lab, I’ve found that living with the other Pinterns has become just as meaningful.