Core--Special Animal

人类疾病的动物模型是中心研究者不可或缺的模式。肝细胞移植、基因治疗和肝脏病理生理学的研究仍然是该中心的主要重点。核心继续在古普塔博士的专家指导下蓬勃发展，这是进入第二个十年。在以前的资助期间，核心为中心研究人员以及肝脏中心和医学院以外的研究人员提供服务。核心提供的动物促进了关于代谢缺陷状态、遗传性肝病和急性或慢性肝衰竭治疗方法开发的研究。此外，提供的动物有助于肝脏基因表达、祖细胞和干细胞生物学以及肝脏生长控制的研究。虽然许多研究是在体外进行的，但使用具有独特遗传特征的良好表征的动物模型是非常宝贵的，并且在未来仍将如此。动物核心的使命是繁殖、维持和提供在其他地方根本无法获得或随时可以获得的特定动物。核心通过培训研究者或指定人员执行特定动物程序提供指导服务。提供有关特定动物研究的实验设计咨询。在核心资源的帮助下开发新的动物模型，以推进各种相关研究，例如，用于生物分布分析的特定肝细胞类型的放射性标记，以及用于鉴定移植的新动物模型的产生， 细胞核心仍然是一个最有活力的力量，根据中心的要求，在其库存中增加和删除。在本报告期内，我们预计核心研究中心将继续向合格的研究者提供其储备库中的动物，根据要求复制动物模型，并在必要时对研究者进行动物程序培训。核心特别鼓励新的调查员利用其资源。此外，核心还试图整合新的服务，例如，在这一资助期间，将从独特动物身上采集和冷冻胚胎作为一项新的核心服务，这样，在必要时，动物群体可以停止，在发生自然灾害（感染、丧失繁殖力等）时，动物可以重新繁殖。

Animal models of human disease constitute an indispensable modality for Center Investigators. Studies of liver cell transplantation, gene therapy and hepatic pathophysiology remain a major focus of the Center. The Core continues to thrive under Dr. Gupta's expert direction, which is entering its second decade. During the previous funding periods, the Core provided its services to Center Investigators, as well as to investigators outside of the Liver Center and the College of Medicine. The animals provided by the Core facilitate studies concerning development of therapies for metabolic deficiency states, genetic liver disease, and acute or chronic liver failure. In addition, animals provided facilitate studies of hepatic gene expression, progenitor cell and stem cell biology, and liver growth control. Although many studies are performed in vitro, use of well-characterized animal models with unique genetic characteristics has been invaluable and will remain so in the future. The mission of the Animal Core is to breed, maintain and provide specific animals that are not at all available or readily available elsewhere. The Core offers instructional services by training Investigators or designees in the performance of specific animal procedures. Consultation is provided in experimental design concerning specific animal studies. Novel animal models are developed with the assistance of Core resources for advancing various relevant studies, e.g., radiolabeling of specific liver cell types for biodistribution analysis, and generation of new animal models for identifying transplanted cells. The Core remains a most dynamic force with additions and deletions in its stock according to Center requirements. In the current period, we expect that the Core will continue to provide animals in its repertoire to qualified Investigators, reproduce animal models under request, and train Investigators in animal procedures as necessary. New Investigators are especially encouraged by the Core to use its resources. Furthermore, the Core attempts to incorporate new services, e.g., harvesting and freezing of embryos from unique animals will be added as a new Core service during this period of funding, such that animal colonies could be discontinued if necessary and animals could be rederived in case of natural disasters (infection, loss of fecundity, etc).