Small Animal Phenotyping Core

Director:  Tim R. Nagy, PhD

Department/Center Association:  Nutrition Sciences/Clinical Nutrition Research Center, Center for Metabolic Bone Disease, Alabama Neuroscience Blueprint Center

Established:  1996

 

Mission

The Small Animal Phenotyping Core provides investigators in the areas of diabetes, obesity, and bone research with analysis of body composition (fat, lean, and bone) and energy budgets in mice, rats, and other small animals. 

Facility Description

Located in Volker Hall, the Core is fully equipped to conduct body composition/energy expenditure/energy intake in small rodents.  Core equipment includes three dual-energy X-ray absorptiometers, an in vivo micro-CT scanner (30 to 100 micron resolution), an ex vivo micro-CT scanner (6-72 micron resolution), Faxitron MX-20, indirect and bomb calorimetry, and glucose homeostasis studies.  Our latest additions to the Core are quantitative magnetic resonance machines that allow us to determine fat and lean content in organisms and biopsies ranging from 5mg to 100g (from fruit flies to 100 gram mice), and between 100g and 900g (rats).

Research Information

The Core offers terminal and in vivo body composition analysis for investigators studying changes in fat mass, lean mass, or bone density.  In addition, the Core is also fully equipped to measure the energy budgets of small rodents (food intake, energy expenditure, core body temperature, and activity). 

 

Contact Information

            Director:  Tim R. Nagy, PhD  

            Email:  tnagy@uab.edu         

Phone:  205-934-4088

 

 

Approved by:  Tim R. Nagy, PhD, Director

Date:  March 7, 2008

 

 

Click here to return to the SOM Research Web Site's home page.