Luck of the Lab: LSU Research Glows Green, Spanning Brain Cells, Crops, Frogs, and Algae
March 17, 2026 · Baton Rouge, LA
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we bring you LSU research in every shade of green—from neurons stained with green fluorescent protein, to hardier green crops, to photosynthesizing microbes. Turns out, great science can be just as green as the holiday!
At Pennington Biomedical Research Center, scientists often study the brain by highlighting specific cells so they can be seen more clearly under a microscope. This technique was recently used by Dr. Yanlin He, associate professor and director of the Brain Glycemic and Metabolism Control Laboratory, who is examining Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum.
Purkinje neurons are best known for helping control movement and motor learning, but researchers are discovering they may have other important roles in the body as well, such as controlling energy balance and blood sugar.
By making these neurons glow green, Dr. He and his team can see their complex branching shapes and how they connect within the cerebellum’s neural network.
This technique also allows researchers to perform electrophysiology recordings, which measure the electrical activity of the cells in a laboratory setting. Their work could help scientists better understand how the brain helps regulate metabolism and overall health.
For more information contact:
Joe Coussan, Media Relations Manager, joe.coussan@pbrc.edu, 225-763-3049 or Ernie Ballard, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, ernie.ballard@pbrc.edu, 225-263-2677.
About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Pennington Biomedical has the vision to lead the world in promoting nutrition and metabolic health and eliminating metabolic disease through scientific discoveries that create solutions from cells to society. The Center conducts basic, clinical and population research, and is a campus in the LSU System.
The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 600 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 16 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a globally recognized state-of-the-art research institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
