The neuromuscular physiology laboratory of Dr. Andrew Voss at Wright State University examines the function of nerve and skeletal muscle.  We perform the difficult techniques needed to translate molecular mechanisms to whole animal function, improving our understanding of neuromuscular physiology and helping discover new therapies for the treatment of disease.

The Voss laboratory has extensive experience in using electrophysiology and optical imaging to study mammalian skeletal muscle fibers. We utilize patch clamp as well as two-electrode current- and voltage-clamp techniques of single dissociated flexor digitorum brevis and interosseous muscle fibers to study ion channel and whole cell function. This technique allows us to finely control the extracellular and intracellular conditions of our fibers. With the use of intracellular Ca²⁺ indicator dyes, we are now able to simultaneously record myoplasmic and electrical signaling events such as action potentials.

We are able to obtain detailed recordings of neuromuscular transmission under current- or voltage-clamp from fully innervated mature mammalian skeletal muscle (levator auris longus). Because we can study a single synapse in isolation, we can obtain accurate measures of synaptic transmission for modeling such as miniature endplate currents, evoked endplate currents, and quantal content. We have also used the preparation to identify neuromuscular defects causing fatigue in disease models.

A key aspect of our laboratory is translating measures of cell electrophysiology and Ca²⁺ imaging to whole tissue and animal function. We do this using a custom system to measure muscle force generation. We are able to measure muscle contraction ex vivo as well as in situ. Our ex vivo experiments allow us precise control of extracellular conditions, ideal for testing candidate drugs, and our in situ experiments are performed in anesthetized animals so that we can translate changes in skeletal muscle fibers to whole animal function.