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In vivo functional exploration

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Biologie moléculaire et production virale

All research projects are carried out within the European and French regulatory framework. All research protocols are reviewed by the Ethics committee n°44 prior to receiving an authorization from the French Ministry of Research and Education. Following regulations, all staff involved in animal experiments possesses an official diploma.  A local animal welfare committee oversees all running protocols before and during their execution and ensures the respect of the 3Rs rule (reduction, refinement, replacement).


Published on 3 July 2024

​Animal housing 

The husbandry is granted by a team of qualified technicians in charge of cleaning and feeding all animals. The team also oversees the welfare of rodents and non-human primates and reports directly to the on-site veterinarian in case of need.

Characterisctis and equipment


  • Rodent housing (mice and rats) in IVC Tecniplast BleuLine.
  • Non-human primate housing (cynomolgus / rhésus macaques, microcebus) in contiguous modules (Genestil, Techniplast).
  • Animal facilities operate on Biosafety levels 1, 2 and 3 as required by the experimental protocol.

In vivo functional exploration 

The in vivo platforms allow the development and the validation of animals models, the optimization of the longitudinal monitoring of the pathologies (biomarkers measurements, anatomic and functional imaging), and the development of new therapies.

Activities


Surgery and microsurgery

  • The expertise in microsurgery enables studies requiring :
    • vascular catheters or sub-cutaneous chronic implantation of osmotic pumps for product delivery, such as PK or pharmacodynamics.
    • implantation of telemetry probes to record body temperature.
    • sampling of blood or CSF longitudinally to follow up of biomarkers in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.
  • The expertise in neurosurgery enables studies requiring :​

    • ​ stereotaxic injection to deliver biological agents (viral vectors, stem cells, etc…), chemical products (toxins, contrast agents for imaging studies, etc…) or small molecules (trophic factors, ASOs, etc…) for the development of animal models of neurodegenerative diseases and/or the assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of new approaches.
    • intracerebral administration of substances through different routes: intraparenchymal, intracerebroventricular, intrathecal, intracisternal in rodents and non-human primates (MRI guided and/or using a neuronavigation system).
    • implantation of electrodes for electrophysiological recordings, of optic fibers for optogenetic studies, Microdialysis​


  
Rodent stereotaxy room
© CEA MIRCen

 

Equipment


The platform comprises 5 dedicated surgical suites that can operate in biosafety levels 1 or 2 for both rodents and non-human primates. The suites are equipped with stereotaxic frames and surgical microscopes, a neuronavigation system for NHP, injection pumps, and all the necessary material for anesthesia and monitoring of vitals during surgical interventions.

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