Animal Physiology Core

Licheng Wu,MS  

Overview

The mission of the Animal Physiology Core (APC) is to assist investigators in the metabolic characterization of mice and rats, including the in vivo assessment of glucose and fatty acid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis. Through collaborative efforts and close interactions with the other Cores of the ES-DRC, the effects of defined pharmacological, dietary, environmental and genetic alterations are thoroughly characterized for their effects on glucose homeostasis, insulin action, and metabolism. The role of integrative signaling networks among relevant tissues, such as the CNS, liver, GI tissue, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue related to glucose homeostasis can be sharply delineated by thorough and well-defined experimentation in rodent models. Due to the establishment of close ties among the various Cores of the ES-DRC, opportunities to explore new rodent models of diabetes are greeted with enthusiasm by the collaborators of the APC. This highly successful Core encompasses a major effort in the ES-DRC and also expands these services to other ES-DRC affiliated scientists beyond Einstein and Mount Sinai. The broad expertise of the APC staff allows biomedical investigators a wide range of specialized, high quality methodologies, tools and, importantly, interpretation of the data generated relevant to understanding the behavior and physiology mediating the relationships among diabetes, nutrient sensing and obesity in rodents. 

Objectives 

1. To offer advice and instruction to students, postdoctoral fellows, investigators and technical staff in the design and performance of physiologic approaches and techniques necessary to evaluate the control of glucose homeostasis and insulin action in rodents. 
2. To make available to investigators specialized measurements of whole body and tissue-specific glucose metabolism and insulin action in rodent models including insulin, pancreatic and hyperglycemic clamps and spontaneous glucose monitoring. 
3. To provide specialized gastrointestinal, neurosurgical and histological models for the study of insulin sensitivity, energy balance, and glucose and fatty acid metabolism, including gastric bypass and adipose and hepatic tissue denervation, imaging and photo-stimulation. 
4. To provide analysis of whole body carbohydrate/fatty acid oxidation, energy expenditure, thermogenesis, food intake, and locomotor activity using specialized metabolic (indirect calorimetry) rodent cages. 
5. To provide assessment of the effects of diet, exercise, light/dark cycle and environmental temperature on glucose homeostasis, metabolism, and shivering via electromyography. 
6. To make available to investigators specialized measurements of rodent adipose tissue distribution using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and microCT. 
7. To assist investigators in the interpretation of data and to design further experimental approaches to reveal the molecular and physiologic bases of metabolically relevant rodent phenotypes. 
8. To facilitate and integrate the functional assessments provided by the APC with assays provided by other ES-DRC Biomedical Cores.