The Tissue Phenotyping and Bone Metabolism Core Facility

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The overall goal of the Tissue Phenotyping and Bone Metabolism Core, led by experienced investigators Drs. Bouxsein and Demay, is to provide the highest quality assessment of kidney and musculoskeletal tissues, as well as serum and urine biochemistry, in the most efficient manner. The core will provide investigators with access to state-of-the-art technology, training in use of new devices (as appropriate) and consultation on experimental design, protocol development, data analysis and interpretation. The core provides hierarchical, multi-scale assessment of musculoskeletal phenotypes in rodent models with genetic alterations, as well as dietary and pharmacologic interventions, allowing the efficient evaluation of tissue samples, with regard to both time and resources. Altogether the core has been highly effective in supporting the investigators in the Program Project, as evidenced by the use of the core by all projects, the efficient processing of specimens, and number of manuscripts to which the core contributed. In this renewal, the core will support all four proposed projects. In the current funding period, the core supported all the projects and will continue to do so by addressing the following three specific aims: 1) Provide access to state-of-the-art serum and urinary biochemical analyses; histologic & histomorphometric analyses; skeletal imaging & biomechanical assessments; 2) Promote a cost-effective, efficient, integrated, hierarchical approach to evaluation of tissue phenotypes; and 3) Support investigators by providing hands-on training, expert advice on study design, trouble shooting of new protocols/probes/antibodies and interpretation of results generated by the Core facility. With experienced leadership and technical staff, as well as state-of-the-art equipment and strict quality control measures, the core will achieve these aims by offering the following services, including: a variety of histologic techniques; quantitative histomorphometry; in vivo bone densitometry and body composition; high resolution bone microarchitecture measurements via micro-computed tomography; marrow fat quantification via osmium tetraoxide micro-computed tomography; whole bone and tissue level biomechanical testing; and serum and urine biochemistry relating to bone and kidney metabolism. By conducting these evaluations within the core facility, high quality control standards can be readily maintained. Moreover, the core will provide coordinated, timely assessments, and will assist investigators with study design and interpretation of results, as needed. Salaries of core personnel and basic supplies are covered in the Core budget, however user fees are collected for some services to offset expenses not covered in the core budget. We find that this hybrid approach, where salaries and basic supplies are covered by the core, but some services require users fees, results in a stable operation of the Core, with equitable resource sharing and cost allocation amongst the projects.