Transgenic Mouse Core
The Transgenic Mouse Core located in the School of Veterinary Medicine is a state-of-the-art fee-for-service facility that offers a full line of embryological manipulation services, focused on, but not limited to, murine model systems. These services primarily enable the generation of genetically modified murine models, as well as experimental research in germ cell function and early embryonic development.
About Us
Over the past 30 years, techniques have been developed that enable the modification of individual genes in animals and plants and thereby precisely alter inherited traits. These genetically altered organisms, called transgenic, and are of enormous value in medicine and agriculture. Scientists at the School of Veterinary Medicine performed pioneering studies in the development of transgenic techniques and were responsible for production of the first transgenic mice and farm animals.
Capitalizing on years of foundation research, the Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research was established in 1998. Our primary mission is to undertake innovative research on stem cell biology, germ cell development, and animal transgenesis. A major objective of this research is to improve the health and productivity of domestic animals by genetic modification and to develop animal models for biomedical research. To achieve these goals, the School of Veterinary Medicine has established the Transgenic Mouse Core.
An improved understanding of the basic processes governing germ cell and embryo development and of the biology of gametes (sperm and oocytes) and embryonic stem cells will enable us to improve reproductive efficiency, generate animal models of human and animal disease and help provide the knowledge base for regenerative medicine, as well as toward the treatment of infertility.
Services
Pronuclear DNA & CRISPR Injections Direct microinjection into the pronuclei of fertilized single-cell mouse embryos
Desired pups will be transferred at weaning age (21 days)
- Cas9 protein provided and final injection mixture done in house (unless otherwise specified)
- Injections done in mixed B6/B6D2 Background, but we also offer pure B6 Background upon request (injection into any other background will incur extra fees)
- Tail samples will be provided for genotyping by investigators
Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells in blastocysts (Day 3.5 embryos).
- Chimeras will be determinable by coat color
- Chimeras will be transferred at weaning age (21 days)
- The cost of your injection includes two clones from one target
- We inject an average of 30 embryos per clone
For Es Cell derivation & gene targeting please contact Chris Lengner. We offer a 20% discount on your Injections if you choose to utilize our in house Es Cell derivation services.
Fertilization of mature oocytes with capacitated sperm in a culture dish.
- Can be performed using fresh or frozen sperm
Cryopreservation is a cost effective way to preserve important mouse lines without the costs of keeping live mice. It also allows for ease of sharing mouse strains with collaborators across the world.
For sperm cryopreservation we require 2 males per strain. From those 2 males we can freeze down 20 sperm straws (10 straws per male). We Recommend males be no younger than 12 weeks before freezing. If freezing down current breeding males, please remove from breeding cage 1 week prior to freezing.
For embryo freezing, we recommend transferring 10 females six to eight weeks old.
- For embryo freezing, please contact nleu@vet.upenn.edu.
Their will be a $25/yr storage fee for anyone wanting to store their sperm straws in house.
Pricing
Pricing is discounted for bulk service. In addition to these specialized services, the facility will work with individual laboratories to customize assays/experiments upon request. Further, the core offers training in many of the above techniques on a fee-for-service basis.
Members of the University of Pennsylvania community can make service requests thru the CAMS system. We are listed as VETTRAN.
Transgenic Mice
- $3,000 (Penn Investigators), $5,000 (External Investigators)
- A Design Fee of $1000 and In-House PCR: $2,000 (This fee is across the board for CRISPR, not specific to investigators.)
Re-derivation
- IVF: $3,000 (Penn Investigators), $5,000 (External Investigators)
- ICSI: $3,000 (Penn Investigators), $5,000 (External Investigators)
- Embryo: Contact nleu@vet.upenn.edu for more information
Guaranteed Founder
Cryopreservation
- Sperm: $800 (Penn Investigators), $1,000 (External Investigators)
- Embryos: Contact nleu@vet.upenn.edu for more information
- Yearly Storage Fee: $50 (Penn Investigators), $100 (External Investigators)
ES Cell Culture Services
- ES-cell Targeting (129xBl/6-F1 hybrid) (up to 96 clones)
- $3,500 (Penn Investigators), $5,000 (External Investigators)
- We will provide up to 96 clones for validation, then expansion and cryopreservation of desired clones.
FAQs
Requests are prioritized on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis. Upon receipt of your request, someone will respond to you within the week to further discuss your project. We try our best to schedule your request within two weeks.
CMice are transferred to Investigators around weaning age (three to four weeks). The average turn around time from receipt of request to transfer of pups is bout eight to 10 weeks. If genotyping is necessary, tail samples will be provided to the requesting lab prior to weaning age. All genotyping must be completed before pups are weaned. Labs will be charged daily cage rates for any pups remaining in the Transgenic Core vivarium after weaning age unless special arrangements have been made.
- Injections are done in a mixed background (C57BL/6J x B6D2F1/J)
- Injection into pure C57BL/6J background available upon request
- Additional Fees will be charged if requesting use of alternate strain not available in house
After microinjection, embryos are implanted into the oviduct or uterine horn of pseudo-pregnant Swiss Webster Females and allowed to grow to term. Swiss females are known for being wonderful mothers and their ability to carry large litters to term.
We recommend mating your chimeras to C57BL6 females so you can use coat color to help determine possible germline transmission. Since we use ES Cells derived from agouti mice, mating your chimeras to Bl6 females would result in easy to identify agouti pups for genotyping. Please note, if the ES cells are heterozygous then only 50% of the agouti pups will be transgenic.
Director & Faculty Oversight
N. Adrian Leu
Contact Us
Please reach out to Director N. Adrian Leu for Transgenic Services and Re-derivation. For matters related to cryopreservation, billing, shipping, and receiving, you can contact the Lab Manager, Stephanie Sterling.
Find Us
We are located in 195E inside the Old Vet Quad at the School of Veterinary Medicine. All entrances are pass card protected so you will have to contact the lab to make arrangements prior to drop off.
University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine
3800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4539