The purpose of the Transgenic Core Lab is to centralize development of transgenic and targeted gene disruption mouse models for use in biomedical research, since experience with similar facilities at other institutions indicated that the efficiency and success rates of transgenic experiments are greatly improved in a core facility where the procedures are conducted routinely.

This centralization of the basic microinjection and stem cell technologies in a common core lab also avoids unnecessary and expensive duplication of efforts. The establishment of a transgenic core lab allows continued growth of successful research programs at our institution, as well as the development of new research avenues.

• For transgenic mouse construction, the core lab performs microinjection of purified DNA elements into the pronucleus of fertilized mouse eggs.
• Eggs are then returned to pseudopregnant females, and founder lines established.

The core lab harvests eggs, microinjects them, reimplants eggs, and coordinates litter stocks up to the establishment of a founder line.

The investigator is responsible for providing ultrapure DNA fragments, and for performing appropriate Southern blot analysis on founders and their progeny to establish integration of the transgene. Investigators maintain their own transgenic lines.

Procedures for targeted gene disruption and blastocyst injections are also available.

When using data or animals generated here in publications or grants, please cite "Alane Seidel of the Transgenic Animal Core Facility of the Section of Research Resources, Penn State College of Medicine".

Please also let us know about publications or grant applications that make use of the services of this facility.

or contact:

Ms. Alane Seidel, Lab Manager & Senior Research Support Associate - Room AF173; Telephone (717) 531-4714 (aks2@psu.edu )

Major equipment in the lab includes a Leica microscope with dual micromanipulators, a Sutter programmable pipette puller, a Narashige microforge, an Olympus dissecting stereoscope, an Eppendorf microinjection system, a laminar flow hood, and incubators.

The transgenic lab is co-directed by Drs. Sarah Bronson (CM Physiology) and Bruce Stanley (Section of Research Resources), who along with the Advisory Committee set policies and deal with issues related to animal care in collaboration with faculty and staff from Comparative Medicine. Ms. Alane Seidel is the Senior Research Support Associate in charge of the lab; she has solid experience in murine reproductive biology and has generated greater than 80 transgenic lines and several lines of germ-line chimeras for use in targeted gene studies.

Directors

• Dr. Sarah Bronson
• Dr. Bruce A. Stanley

Advisory Committee

• Dr. Ron Wilson
• Dr. Judith Tevethia
• Dr. Robert Milner