Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请旨在支持肯塔基大学Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center （AGSC）的继续运营。AGSC保存着具有历史意义的墨西哥蝾螈（Ambystoma mexicanum），这是一种濒危物种，为支持国内和国际生物医学研究提供了生命材料。最值得注意的是，蝾螈之所以被研究，是因为它们在脊椎动物中是独一无二的，能够再生许多组织和身体部位。这些器官包括脊髓、四肢、下颚、视网膜、大脑、心脏和尾巴，所有这些器官都可以在胚胎、幼虫和成年期间的任何时候再生。此外，蝾螈还被许多其他领域的研究人员使用，包括神经生物学、生态毒理学、发育、生理学、细胞生物学、遗传学、基因组学和进化。在未来5年，AGSC将实施一项新的资源管理计划，以更好地确保美西螈种群的长期可持续性，并每年向更大程度的自给自足迈进。这将通过提供社区所依赖的高质量库存，增加美西螈的生产和销售，以及提供新产品和服务来实现。特别是，AGSC将提供显微注射服务，以协助研究人员创建转基因蝾螈。AGSC将继续作为信息学中心，研究人员在这里获得有关收集、技术程序、潜在合作者和研究结果的信息。总的来说，该项目将确保美国国立卫生研究院资助的研究人员分配和长期可持续性的美西螈资源。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks support to continue operations of the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center (AGSC) at the University of Kentucky. The AGSC maintains a historically significant collection of Mexican axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum), an endangered species that provides living materials in support of biomedical research nationally and internationally. Most notably, axolotls are studied because they are unique among vertebrates in being able to regenerate numerous tissues and body parts. These include the spinal cord, limbs, jaw, retina, brain, heart, and tail, all of which can be regenerated at any poit during embryonic, larval, and adult life. Also, axolotls are used by researchers that work in many additional areas, including neurobiology, ecotoxicology, development, physiology, cell biology, genetics, genomics, and evolution. Over the next 5 years, the AGSC will implement a new resource management plan to better ensure long-term sustainability of axolotl stocks and move each year towards greater self- sufficiency. This will be accomplished by providing high quality stocks that the community has come to depend upon, increasing production and distribution of axolotls, and offering new products and services. In particular, the AGSC will offer a microinjection service to assist investigators in the creation of transgenic axolotls. The AGSC will continue to serve as an informatics hub where investigators obtain information about the collection, technical procedures, potential collaborators, and research findings. Overall, the project will ensure distribution and long-term sustainability of axolotl resources to NIH-funded investigators.