Core--Special Animal

人类疾病的动物模型构成了中心研究人员不可或缺的手段。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。Core在古普塔博士的专家指导下继续蓬勃发展，目前正进入第二个十年。在之前的资助期间，核心中心向中心调查人员以及肝脏中心和医学院以外的调查人员提供服务。由Core提供的动物促进了有关代谢缺陷状态、遗传性肝病和急性或慢性肝功能衰竭治疗方法的开发研究。此外，提供的动物还有助于研究肝脏基因表达、祖细胞和干细胞生物学以及肝脏生长控制。尽管许多研究都是在体外进行的，但使用具有独特遗传特征的特征良好的动物模型一直是无价的，而且未来仍将如此。动物核心的使命是培育、维护和提供在其他地方根本无法获得或容易获得的特定动物。该中心通过培训研究人员或指定人员执行特定的动物程序来提供指导服务。在关于特定动物研究的实验设计中提供咨询。在核心资源的帮助下，开发了新的动物模型，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，以及用于识别移植的新动物模型的生成 细胞。核心仍然是一支最具活力的力量，根据中心的要求在其库存中进行添加和删除。在当前期间，我们预计核心将继续向合格的研究人员提供其保留的动物，根据要求复制动物模型，并在必要时对调查人员进行动物程序方面的培训。核心特别鼓励新的调查人员利用其资源。此外，核心服务试图纳入新的服务，例如，采集和冷冻独特动物的胚胎将作为这一资助期间的新核心服务，以便在必要时可以停止动物群体，并在发生自然灾害(感染、丧失繁殖力等)时重新获得动物。

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).