Blastocyst Injection Station (BIS)

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的目的是申请一个囊胚注射站（BIS），以促进南卡罗来纳州医科大学（MUSC）从供体胚胎和基因靶向胚胎干（ES）细胞生成嵌合胚胎和小鼠。嵌合胚胎用于产生基因靶向突变和基因敲除转基因小鼠，并用于在整个个体的背景下研究基因功能。这个站的组成部分是一个高功率倒置显微镜，具有同时观察ES细胞和囊胚期胚胎的光学能力，显微操作设备，无振动支撑台，以及监测和记录设备。MUSC医学院内6个系的29名用户正在要求使用这一设备。具体目标是：1。获得能够同时可视化囊胚期胚胎和ES细胞并操纵囊胚和ES细胞的囊胚注射系统，使得ES细胞被注射到囊胚的囊胚腔中。2.使用此设备来提高国立卫生研究院资助的研究人员在MUSC的研究生产力，并提高研究人员和学员的研究效率和竞争力。3.使用此设备，以促进独立的研究，由初级研究人员在即将到来的用户组，并提高他们的能力，成功地竞争美国国立卫生研究院赠款基金。4.使用该设备来促进用户群之间的跨学科研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of this proposal is to request a Blastocyst Injection Station (BIS) to facilitate the generation of chimeric embryos and mice from donor embryos and gene-targeted embryonic stem (ES) cells at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Chimeric embryos are used for the generation of gene-targeted mutant and knockout transgenic mice and for the study of gene function in the context of the whole individual. The components of this station are a high-powered inverted microscope with optical capabilities for viewing ES cells and blastocyst-stage embryos simultaneously, micromanipulator equipment, a vibration-free support table, and monitoring and recording equipment. This equipment is being requested by a group of 29 users from 6 departments within the MUSC College of Medicine. Specific aims are to: 1. Obtain a blastocyst injection system capable of simultaneously visualizing blastocyst-stage embryos and ES cells and manipulating the blastocysts and ES cells such that ES cells are injected into the blastocoel cavity of the blastocysts. 2. Use this equipment to enhance the research productivity of NIH-funded investigators at MUSC and to improve the research efficiency and competitiveness of research faculty and trainees. 3. Use this equipment to foster independent research by junior investigators in the upcoming user group and enhance their ability to compete successfully for NIH grant funds. 4. Use this equipment to stimulate interdisciplinary research among the user group.