Objectives

The objectives of the core are to provide:

• Body composition: Whole-body composition analysis by chemical carcass analysis, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR), and micro-computed tomography (µCT)
• Energy balance: Comprehensive assessments of metabolic rate (indirect calorimetry), food intake, fecal output, activity, and body temperature
• Glucose homeostasis: Glucose and insulin tolerance testing
• Transgenic animal models: Assistance with construct preparation, generation of transgenic/knock-out mice, husbandry and colony management, and genotyping

Services

The APC emphasizes quality control in all aspects of its functions. All data is examined and quality controls performed in a manner that is specific for the multiple core methodologies. Aspects of these procedures are discussed below in the context of provided core services.

1. Whole-body composition analysis
   • Chemical carcass analysis (CCA)
   • Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
   • Quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR)
   • Ex vivo imaging of small rodents using micro-computed tomography (µCT)
2. Comprehensive assessments of metabolic rate (indirect calorimetry), food intake, fecal output, and activity
3. Glucose homeostasis
   • Insulin tolerance test (ITT)
   • Glucose tolerance test (GTT)
   • Indwelling catheter cannulation
     • Jugular vein (insulin, glucose, tracer infusion)
     • Carotid artery (blood sampling; patent up to 2 weeks)
   • In vivo Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion (GSIS)
   • Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp / Hypoglycemic Clamp / Hyperglycemic Clamp
     • Glucose infusion rate (GIR)
     • Glucose disposal rate (Rd)
     • Tissue-specific (2-Deoxy-D-glucose) uptake (Rg)
     • Hepatic glucose production (Endo Ra)
     • Glycolysis and lipid synthesis
     • Tissue-specific Glycogen synthesis
     • Plasma insulin and NEFA (basal vs. clamped)
     • Insulin signaling Western Blot from tissues snap-frozen at clamp termination
   • Primary cell isolation from mouse tissues
     • Hepatocyte
     • Adipocyte
4. Transgenic Animal/Embryonic Stem Cell Resource
   • Expertise related to transgenics.
   • Services Offered by the UAB Transgenic Mouse Facility
     • DNA microinjection (pronuclear)
     • Gene Targeting of ES cells (with & without screening)
     • ES cell microinjection (blastocysts)
     • In vitro fertilization (IVF)
     • Embryo cryopreservation
     • Sperm cryopreservation
     • Long-term storage of cryopreserved transgenic lines
     • Assisted reproduction / rederivations
     • Consultation & training
5. Service Price

   Service	Price
   DXA	$8.26
   QMR	$7.68
   uCT (per hr)	$78.63
   Indirect Calorimetry (per mouse per day)	$6.44
   Wheel running (per mouse per day)	$3.62
   Bomb calorimetry	$25.72
   Carcass analysis (mice)	$34.30

   Contact Information:
   Maria S. Johnson, Ph.D.
   Assistant Professor
   Phone: (205) 934-4008
   Email: mariajoh@uab.edu