Rodent Cardio-Immuno-Metabolic Models Service

The European policy on the 3Rs in animal research requires the implementation of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement in all scientific uses of animals across the EU member states. At the same time, animal studies, remain a crucial mechanistic and functional research approach. The goal of establishing this Core facility platform is to optimize animal studies across the serviced research groups in alignment with the 3R principles, while ensuring the generation of robust and reliable scientific data. By offering services that will facilitate rodent microsurgery and models in the cardiometabolic, immune and vascular domain (listed below and more), we can considerably reduce the number of animals required, enable longitudinal non‑invasive monitoring of disease progression, and ensure improved postoperative outcomes through the involvement of experienced researchers.

In vivo study models

We have developed and implemented multiple technically complex microsurgical rodent models (in mice and/or rats) that closely mimic human cardiovascular, metabolic and immune disease, for example:

• Atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability models with partial carotid ligation and perivascular cuff implantation in ApoE- or LDLR-deficient mice
• Vascular stenosis/restenosis models based on carotid or femoral artery ligation, wire injury or ballon catheter injury
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models via intraluminal or topical porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) with/without BAPN; angiotensin II (Ang II) mini-pump infusion
• Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) models with femoral artery ligation and resection
• Carotid stent implantation model that mimics drug eluting stents in humans
• Local delivery of therapeutic molecules (e.g., peptides, nucleotides) to achieve localized treatment administration using ultrasound guided microbubbles
• Deep vein thrombosis models with inferior vena cava (IVC) ligation
• AAV injection to induce PCSK9 conditional KO mice for hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis development
• Special diet induced metabolic models
• Immune models relevant for cardiometabolic research

Non-invasive imaging and testing

For longitudinal assessment of physiological and pathological phenotypes triggered in these models, we employ:

• Vevo-2100 ultrasound system (with ECG) for cardiac and vascular imaging (physiological and pathological heart structure and functions, arterial atherosclerotic plaque development measurement, aortic aneurysms);
• Imaging of other organs (liver, kidney, etc);
• Glucose and insulin intolerance tests:
• Tail-cuff blood pressure measurements;

 

To discuss experiments and research design contact us directly!

Available services include a broad portfolio of validated rodent models that mimic human diseases, along with expert help for study design, training, and finally oversight of results and data produced. Each project is unique, thus there is no booking system. Please contact Hong Jin directly to get an introduction about the offered services and discuss the experiments.

Animal facility Location: KMB M4-121, Biomedicium, Karolinska Institutet

Office location: Bioclinicium J8:20, Karolinska Institutet

Responsible persons and contacts: Assoc Prof Ljubica Matic (Ljubica.Matic@ki.se) and Hong Jin, Senior research specialist in animal vascular surgery, Animal lab manager (hong.jin@ki.se)