Animal Models and Histology Core

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PROJECT ABSTRACT The goal of the Center for Redox Biology and Cardiovascular Disease is to improve the infrastructure for junior and senior investigators and to provide mentoring for the junior faculty members so that they become more competitive for independent NIH funding. The Animal Models & Histology Core B, led by Dr Karen Stokes, provides services to both the COBRE members and others at our institute, with 28 users thus far in Phase 1. Core services are also available to nearby institutes at which our cardiovascular researchers have collaborations. A needs survey of faculty identified some key new equipment/services that faculty require for growth of their research programs, with an anticipated increase to 32 users in Phase 2. Dr Hugh Price will continue to lead the Histology and Genotyping Subcore. This will build upon current existing services that provide tissue processing, cardiovascular-related stains, and a genotyping service, to add an immunohistochemistry service (with an automated stainer to help maintain robust histology and genotyping services). The Cardiovascular Phenotyping Subcore, led by Dr Shenu Bhuiyan, will continue to provide capabilities to characterize the disease models. Current equipment includes a Peri-med PSI system and Periflux 5000 to non-invasively image and measure blood flow, a VisualSonics Vevo 3100 Ultra High Frequency Ultrasound to study cardiac and vascular function, an AD Instruments MPVS-Ultra single segment Pressure-Volume Unit for in depth cardiac function measurements, two TSE telemetry systems for continuous recording of blood pressure, activity, temperature, and biopotentials, and an OxyletPro System with a single lane mouse calorimetry treadmill for VO2 max determination during forced exercise. In Phase 2, the telemetry and OxyletPro systems will be complemented by the addition of a CODA High Throughput Noninvasive blood pressure system, for low-cost simultaneous blood pressure measurements in 8 mice/rats, and a 5-lane treadmill for higher throughput exercise regimens respectively, and a blood gas/basic clinical chemistry analyzer will be added. This subcore will also facilitate more in depth clinical chemistry analysis (e.g. organ specific or lipid panels) by external sources. Full-time research technicians have been well-trained on all current modalities and will be trained on future services, so that they can continue to either provide the services, or train lab personnel to perform their experiments using the available technologies. The CCDS Surgical Core will continue to liaise with the CoBRE Core B to implant telemetry probes, and to set up surgical rodent models that undergo subsequent phenotyping in Core B. Taken together, the services offered by the Animal Models and Histology Core will help PIs generate animal models suitable for their research questions, and provide cutting edge phenotypic and pathological analysis to maximize the competitiveness of our junior faculty for future funding in the area of redox regulation of cardiovascular disease.