The use of non-human animals in experiments or behavorial observations. The research is conducted inside universities, medical schools, pharmaceutical companies, farms, defence establishments, and commercial facilities that provide animal-testing services to industry. It includes pure research such as genetics, developmental biology, behavioral studies, as well as applied research such as pharmaceutical testing in pre-clinical, before human, studies.
The Prkdc gene encodes the catalytic subunit of a nuclear DNA-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (DNA-PK). DNA-PK is required for the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway of DNA repair, which rejoins double-strand breaks. It is also required for V(D)J recombination, a process that utilizes NHEJ to promote immune system diversity. Mature B and T cells are critical components for an adaptive immune system. DNA-PK kn…
The Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) receptor is directly involved in the development of atherosclerosis, due to accumulation of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Ldlr (-/-) rats show elevated serum cholesterol levels. Ldlr Knockout Rat Characteristics: This model possesses a 337 bp deletion and 4 bp insertion within Exon 4 on chromosome 8 Homozygous knockout rats display loss of LDLR protein via Western blot Homozygous knoc…
Leptin is essential for energy intake and expenditure. It is one of the most important adipose-derived hormones, being primarily expressed in adipocytes of white adipose tissue. Loss of function of Leptin creates an uncontrolled appetite leading to severe obesity and abnormal metabolism, making this a useful model for the study of lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and high blood…
Rabbits are a preferred model in hypertension and atherosclerosis studies due to their convenience of various physiological and surgical manipulations. ApoE Knockout rabbits have drastically elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, making it an excellent model of human heart disease. ApoE Knockout Rabbit Characteristics: 8 bp deletion within Exon 3 Homozygous knockouts exhibit complete loss of ApoE protein via Western bl…
Cyclooxygenase (COX), also known as prostaglandin synthase (PHS) and prostaglandin endoperoxide synthetase (PES), is an enzyme that is responsible for formation of important biological mediators called prostanoids, including prostaglandins, prostacyclin and thromboxane. Rats deficient in COX1 can be used for studying inflammation, thrombosis, vascular defects, platelet defects and alterations in platelet aggregation.Cox1 Knoc…
Galectins have been implicated in inflammation and cancer, and are useful targets for development of new anti-inflammatory and anticancer therapies. LGALS1 (GAL1) may act as an autocrine negative growth factor that regulates cell proliferation. Lgals1 (gal1) Knockout Rat Characteristics: Homozygous knockout rats display loss of LGALS1 protein via Western blot Background Strain: Sprague-Dawley Research Applications:…
T-box transcription factor (TBX21) is a member of the T-box protein family, which shares a common DNA-binding domain. TBX21 plays a critical role in Th1 cell differentiation through stimulation of IFN γ. Due to a hypersensitive immune system, the Tbx21 (-/-) rat model is useful for studies of acute and chronic human asthma, Crohn’s disease, colitis, cancer metastasis, autoimmune disorders and inflammation.Tbx21 (T-beta) Knock…
This model contains a bi-allelic deletion within the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha gene (Ppara). Ppara Knockout Rat Characteristics: Homozygous Knockouts exhibit complete loss of protein via Western blot Background Strain: Sprague-Dawley Research Applications: Lipid metabolism Diabetes Obesity Cell proliferation Wound healing Inflammation/Autoimmune disorders
Developed in collaboration with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, this model contains a deletion of the Pink1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1) gene, encoding for a serine/threonine protein kinase. Mutations in Pink1 are implicated in early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Pink1 knockout rats show both motor impairments and dopaminergic cell loss, making this a useful model of Parkinson’s disease.Pink1 (Park6) Knockout Rat Characterist…
This model contains a biallelic deletion within the Disc1 (disrupted in schizophrenia 1) gene, encoding the DISC1 protein. A translocation disrupting Disc1 was discovered to co-segregate with major psychiatric illness in a Scottish family. This model is useful in the study of schizophrenia.Disc1 Knockout Rat Characteristics: Disc1 is involved in neuronal growth and cortical development The protein also regulates the pro…
