Animal Models

• Assistance with animal model selection, study planning, and design
• Study interpretation
• Assistance with manuscripts and letters of support for grant preparation
• Training
• Animal protocol assistance
• Planning/Referral for animal modeling techniques/training

In collaboration with the Flow Cytometry Shared Resource, we have established two humanized mouse models at UNM:

• huNSG (standard irradiated model)
• huNBSGW (non-irradiated model)

Immunocompromised mice are engrafted with cord-blood derived CD34+ cells (single donor or multiple donor) to “humanize” the mouse immune system. Peripheral blood is assessed for human B cells, T cells, and myeloid cells 12 weeks post-engraftment to ensure humanization.  These specialized mice are engrafted upon request.

Please contact Irina Lagutina for more information.

We support a breeding colony of NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice (https://www.jax.org/strain/005557) for use in xenograft models, particularly patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, and "humanized" mouse models.

We also carry NOD.Cg-KitW-41J Tyr + Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/ThomJ (NBSGW) immunocompromised mice that can be engrafted with human immune cells without the need for pre-engraftment irradiation.

Requests for NSG mice can be made through CrossLab.

Core personnel can provide technical help with specialized surgical procedures, drug delivery for therapeutic trials, tumor monitoring and measurement, personnel training, instrument operation, and data analysis /troubleshooting. We also offer complete xenograft services. The client provides the cells, and the Shared Resource personnel will introduce the xenograft into a suitable mouse host*. Xenograft implantation includes one cell line or sample implanted in up to 5 mice (one cage).

*NSG mice can be purchased from the Core. Other host mice can be purchased from outside sources.

Image: Animal Models staff can capture bioluminescent images of metastatic tumors, perform full necropsies, and take publication-quality photos of necropsied organs for your studies. Here, in a study from Dr. Marchetti's lab, mice were challenged with a melanoma cell line via intracardiac injection. In the bioluminescent image (left), a metastatic tumor can be seen in the brain of mouse 1 (M1), but not in mouse 2 (M2). Necropsied brains (right) show the dark melanoma tumor in M1 and no tumor in M2. Image posted with permission of Dr. Dario Marchetti, all rights reserved.

Basic Xenograft Implantation

Animal Models personnel will inject cell suspensions I.V., I.P., or SubQ into mice.

Services include:

1. Tumor cell inoculation
2. 1 week post-inoculation monitoring
3. Necropsy and fixation/freezing of tumor and tissues of interest

Complex Xenograft Implantation

Animal Models personnel will implant cells or tumor tissue into mice.

Services include:

1. Surgical engraftment of tumor tissue
2. 1 week post-engraftment monitoring
3. Necropsy and fixation/freezing of tumor and tissues of interest

Complex xenograft implantation includes one tumor sample implanted in up to 5 mice (one cage).

Treatment Administration

Staff can administer treatments to mice via oral gavage, IM, IP or IV injection following investigator-specified dosing regimens. Staff are available to treat mice as required on weekdays and/or weekends with adequate lead time.

Tumor Measurement

Tumors can be measured on a predetermined schedule based on the experimental design. Lab staff will be updated weekly.

Tumor Monitoring

Mice can be monitored for tumor growth and general health. Staff are available to monitor mice as required on weekdays and/or weekends with adequate lead time.

The IVIS Spectrum provides both bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging of live mice using epi- or trans-illumination.   Up to 5 mice can be imaged at once. Spectral unmixing allows imaging of multiple fluorescent probes in the same animal and can subtract autofluorescence signal.  Bioluminescence or Fluorescence Tomography software allows for 3D reconstruction of tumors.non-invasive tumor imagings

• heated platform and built-in anesthesia unit
• high throughput: up to 5 mice (26 cm FOV)
• high resolution: 20 μm resolution (3.9 cm FOV)
• fluorescent and/or bioluminescent detection
• Epi- or transillumination
• 28 filters spanning 430 nm to 840 nm easily distinguishes multiple reporters
• spectral unmixing
• 3D imaging

The IVIS can detect deep tissue tumors of 1 X 10⁵ cells and subcutaneous cancer cells down to 50 cells.

To learn more about the instrument capabilities, contact the Shared Resource personnel or visit the Perkin Elmer site.

Annual Lab fee: $1,945

Training is provided by the Animal Models Shared Resource.

The MultiRad 225 Irradiator is a compact X-Ray Irradiation System, which is a safer alternative to radioisotope irradiators. It delivers a broad range of doses with a uniform beam profile.  Applications include irradiation of feeder cells, oncology research, sterilization studies, and small animal myeloablation/ bone marrow transplant studies. Up to 12 mice can be irradiated at once using a plexiglass carousel.

• self-shielded for safety
• uses an x-ray tube to create ionizing radiation (no radioactive source)
• can irradiate:
  • flasks of cells for feeder cell preparation
  • mice for bone marrow ablation or irradiation studies
• 12 mice can be irradiated at a time

To learn more about the instrument capabilities, contact the Shared Resource personnel or visit the Precision Multirad site.

Annual fee: $1,210/lab

Training by an Animal Models Shared Resource specialist is required before unassisted use can be scheduled.

The Abaxis Vetscan HM5 Hematology Analyzer

The VetScan HM5 is a Five-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer for use in animal studies. It is fully-automated and displays a comprehensive 22-parameter complete blood count (CBC), including direct eosinophil counts and eosinpophil percentages with cellular histograms on an easy-to-read touch-screen. VetScan HM5 has 15 preloaded programs to perform five-part differential analysis (two subtypes of granulocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils and basophils) on cat, dog, horse, cow, alpaca and llama and three-part analysis on on mouse, rabbit, rat, ferret, pig, goat, monkey, sheep and guinea pig. Minimum sample size is 50 μL (five-part differential) and 25 μL (three-part differential). It is highly accurate and gives reproducible results comparable to reference lab analyzers. The HM5 has also been validated for use with peritoneal and synovial fluids.

Training is offered for a one-time fee of $235 per user.

Labs may also elect to have Animal Models Shared Resource personnel run samples for a fixed fee per sample. If you are interested in this option, please contact Irina Lagutina.

Unassisted use: Labs will be charged a reagent fee of $11/sample for use of the Vetscan HM5.

Assisted use: Labs will be charged $17/sample for samples run by the Animal Models Core.

The Abaxis Vetscan VS2 Analyzer

The Abaxis Vetscan VS2 Analyzer

Vetscan VS2 is a small animal chemistry, electrolyte, immunoassay and blood gas analyzer that performs accurate analysis from just two drops of whole blood, serum or plasma. 13 VetScan profiles are available from Abaxis including a comprehensive diagnostic profile, an electrolyte plus, kidney plus, mammalian liver, and T4/cholesterol profile. Profiles are packaged as single-use plastic rotors (one rotor/sample). Each reagent rotor contains a diluent and all necessary components to perform a complete multi-chemistry blood analysis. Rotors can be purchased by the users directly from the company: https://www2.zoetisus.com/products/diagnostics/instruments/vetscan-vs2

The core has two VS2, which can be booked separately and used simultaneously.

Before using VS2 independently, users must be trained by core personnel.

Vetscan VS2 users will be charged an annual fee of $235 per lab for unassisted use by trained personnel.

Labs may also elect to have Animal Models Shared Resource personnel perform analyses for them for a fixed fee per sample. If you are interested in this option, please contact Irina Lagutina.

• Annual fee per lab: $1945
• Training by the Core staff for first-time users: $350
• Assisted use (no training required, no annual lab fee): $140/hour

• Annual fee per lab: $1210
• Training by the Core staff for first time users: $350
• Assisted use (no training required, no annual lab fee): $132/hour

VetScan HM5

Reagent fee - unassisted run: $11/sample

Reagent fee - core run: $17/sample

Training by the Core staff for first-time users: $235

VetScan VS2

Annual fee per lab: $235

Samples, run by core staff: $26/sample

$60/mouse

• Both males and females available. 
• Large orders require early notice.

Base price is for 4-6 week old mice.

Additional charges will be applied for older mice.

All humanized mice are engrafted upon request.

Females or males engrafted with CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells are available 12 to 16 weeks after engraftment:

• Multiple donors: $336/mouse (minimum 12 mice)
• Single donor: $383/mouse (minimum 12 mice)

* Mice expressing human HLA-A2.1 for HLA-restricted T-cell responses can be engrafted at additional cost. Inquire with the core for pricing.  

$75/hour for:

• Specialized procedures

• cancer cell injection

• tumor measurement

• drug delivery for therapeutic trials

• personnel training

• instrument operation

• lentiviral transduction

• data analysis/troubleshooting with Core Staff

Lentivirus aliquots for expression of various bioluminescent reporters can be purchased from the core.

Inquire for pricing.

$8.00/aliquot

1 ml luciferin aliquots (15mg/ml) can be purchased from the core.