Physiology and Behavior Core

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ABSTRACT—PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR (PB) CORE Numerous physiological and behavioral causes, complications and consequences of diabetes and obesity can be assessed in mouse models. Key physiological and behavioral phenotypes in mice are providing useful outcome measures and translational markers to inform the development of new treatments for these and other metabolic conditions in humans. The mission of the Physiology and Behavior (PB) Core will be to advance the understanding of behavioral manifestations and pathophysiological mechanisms and systemic consequences of disease. A selection of unique, complex, and innovative in vivo tests and procedures will be combined with consultative services on planning, analyzing, and interpretation of experimental results and outcomes measures in living mice. PB Core services will complement those of other Cores in the national MPMOD Consortium and the MMH and Animal Cores of the Center. The PB Core will also leverage the expertise and capabilities of several laboratories, cores, and service centers at UC Davis to provide ancillary analytical services and resources in support of investigators using the Center for studies on live mice. The PB Core will be service-oriented, client-facing, and research-supportive. The PB Core will be staffed by a Leader, co- Leader, Core Coordinators, Technical Specialists, and 5 Scientific Consultants. The mission of the PB Core will be accomplished through the following 2 Specific Aims: Specific Aim 1: Provide innovative, comprehensive, high quality, state-of-the art physiological and behavioral testing in vivo of obesity and diabetes phenotypes to investigators from across the biomedical community. Specific Aim 2: Provide clients with consultation services and advice on study design, test selection, and experimental planning, analysis and interpretation of results and outcomes measures, in the areas of physiology and behavior related to diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic disorders. Under these specific aims, the PB Core will carry out the following activities: • Providing comprehensive phenotyping tools for in vivo characterization of ocular, cardiovascular, kidney, and gastrointestinal functions in mouse models of obesity and diabetes in both sexes of mice; • Offering a battery of tests probing multiple behavioral domains (general health, motor capabilities, anxiety, affective and social behaviors, and memory and learning) in mice to understand how obesity and metabolic disorders influence neurophysiological and executive functions; • Conducting analyses of exercise, gait, sleeping stages, spindle events, and apneas during sleep by respiratory physiology paired with neurophysiology, which will provide essential information for studying alterations of energy balance in mice and complement services provided by the MMH Core; • Providing unique, innovative services to assess special physiological functions impacted by diabetes and/or obesity, including intestinal barrier function, nociception, imaging, and neuropathy in mice; • Offering state-of-the-art technologies to observe and measure outcomes in projects that pair behavioral with neurophysiology studies simultaneously in vivo; • Assisting investigators to generate high-quality and reproducible research results for publications, pilot data for grant proposals, and preclinical findings to inform human clinical trials; • Being flexible and responsive to requests for new and customizable tests and procedures; • Participating in the Vibrant Program to assist and train a new generation of scientists with a tailored focus toward underrepresented investigators and increasing diversity in biomedical research. Infused in all activities of the PB Core will be necessary controls, tests conducted in replicates, appropriate group sizes, use males and females to address sex as a biological variable, and other aspects consistent with the principles of rigor and reproducibility.