Organization

Institute of Experimental Animal Sciences

Animal Resource Facility, breeding expeimental animals with special supporting services in using .
  • Experimenal support with reproductive and developmental biotechnology
  • Mouse strain preservation by using vitrification embryos
  • Genetically modified mouse prodution system using embryos preserved by a vitrification method
  • Creation of genetically modified animals with gene editing techniques
  • Management satisfying certain regulatory compliance
Professor Kazuki Nakao
Graduate School of Medicine
The Animal Resource Facility (ARF) was first operated under the direction of Prof. Takehiko Tanaka. In 1989, the ARF was moved and builed next to the Medical School building under the direction of Prof. Toshiyuki Hamaoka. And at the next year then, it was restarted under the direction of Prof. Takeshi Shiga, and been continuousely operated until today.

Creation of genetically modified mouse with full use of reproductive and developmental biotechnology

Since 1972, after the first report of the stock preservation method of mammal embryo cryopreservation, numerous developments have been undergone. And now, globally, many mutant mouse strains are saved and stored safe under liquid nitrogen. Previously, as like this, cryopreservation techniques were used with the purpose of saving mouse strains. To expand the use of these embryos, we developed a new vitrification method which is more simple and efficient and also shortens the operation time than the previous methods (Exp Anim. 1998). With our method, strains can be saved and stored of course, but also it can be used for genetically modified mouse creation. For this, mainly with embryos saved in liquid nitrogen, we are operating a large-scale and rapid genetically modified mouse production system (Exp Anim. 2010).

After the publish of CRISPR/Cas9, the using method to create a transgenic animal has changed incredibly. Terms to obtain a genome editing mice have been shortened tremendously. With using CRISPR/Cas9, we are challenging to insert a genome to the purpose gene locus to create a knock-in mice. As a result, we developed a method to insert a gene of 3-8kb size to the purposed gene locus (Genesis 2016). Currently, we are studying more and more for improving this efficiency.

To product a transgenic mouse speedily is extremely important. To obtain results with high quality, preparing animals in certain necessary numbers are important. With the full use of our reproductive and developmental technology, the Animal Research Facility (ARF) will provide an experimental support to each researchers. We will also provide proper education and training for handling experimental animals, with satisfaction of certain regulatory compliance and animal welfare, and will manage good environments for experiment animals and for users.