Veterinary and Colony Management Core

项目总结兽医和菌落管理核心

PROJECT SUMMARY VETERINARY AND COLONY MANAGEMENT CORE The common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, is a small New World non-human primate (NHP) with several practical advantages that make it a valuable resource in biomedical research and neuroscience. Among all NHP species, the marmoset is arguably the most suitable animal model for studies of aging and age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD). Marmosets are the shortest-lived anthropoid primates. They have an average lifespan of 12-13 years, and some live past 15 years. This short lifespan allows longitudinal studies in the same individuals over a reasonable period. They are considered “aged” at 8 years. In support of their promise to become the premier NHP model of aging-related disorders, marmosets present age- related pathological changes akin to those observed in humans, including chronic renal disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and cerebral deposits of beta-Amyloid and alpha-synuclein. Notably, the sequence coding Aβ is identical between human and marmoset. Marmosets also display age-related weight loss, reduction in lean mass and calf circumference, macular degeneration, changes in the gut microbiome, and progressive decrease of circulating blood factors such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, and creatinine. Metabolic dysfunction has been a regular observation in aged, obese marmosets, suggesting that marmosets display an age-dependent increase in insulin resistance similar to humans. All of these co- morbidities in marmosets are relevant to the co-morbidities and risk factors of human AD. The Veterinary and Colony Management Core (VCMC) is an essential Core of the Consortium entitled “Generation, Characterization, and Validation of Marmoset Models of Alzheimer’s Disease (MARMO-AD). The VCMC will work with the Projects and Cores of MARMO-AD to provide consistent, reliable animal care and research support services and promote the health and welfare of all marmosets in the marmoset colony at the University of Pittsburgh. The VCMC comprises a dedicated team of veterinary and husbandry staff that is led by an outstanding veterinarian, who is capable of providing both standard and enhanced animal care. The VCMC breeding program ensures the marmoset colony is self-sufficient and maintain its outbred status. The VCMC will support the MARMO-AD Consortium by providing animal support to the investigators that include the acquisition of both fluid and tissue samples for the Projects and Cores, specialized anesthesia monitoring, surgical support, including oocyte collection and embryo transplantations, and the provision of post-surgical recovery and treatment of marmosets, and the collection of samples during terminal procedures. The breeding program of the VCMC will ensure an ongoing supply of animals for the Investigators of MARMO-AD. Lastly, the VCMC will curate the marmoset biobank repository contents to ensure accurate record-keeping of all tissues and samples collected.