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Cores
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The mouse airway physiology and microscopy core is a Sandler-funded research facility that provides service to investigators who are interested in studying the molecular mechanisms of asthma. The core laboratory is equipped with two Scireq FlexiVent pulmonary mechanics analyzers for the measurement of airway responsiveness in anesthetized, ventilated animals.
The core has developed several different protocols for antigen sensitization and challenge appropriate to different strains of commonly used mice (including C57BL/6, 129, BALB/c and FVB), and the core can perform both acute and chronic antigen challenge. The protocols can be modified according to the investigators' needs. Routine studies include acetylcholine concentration response curves in anesthetized/ventilated animals at baseline and after antigen (ovalbumin or aspergillus extract) sensitization and challenge. The core also performs bronchoalveolar lavage to determine total and differential cell counts, prepares frozen and/or fixed lung tissue to evaluate basic morphology, and performs PAS and Sirius Red staining to evaluate mucus cell content and sub-epithelial airway fibrosis. In addition, total and/or OVA-specific serum IgE is evaluated by ELISA.
If you are interested in utilizing this facility, or in having someone from your lab learn how to perform these studies to set them up in your own institution, please contact the laboratory director, Dr. Xiaozhu Huang at 415-514-4272 or e-mail to xiaozhu.huang@ucsf.edu.
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