Physiology Core

Genetically modified mice are important tools for studying kidney physiology and diseases. However, expertise and equipment for physiological analysis of kidney function in mice are not readily available to many investigators in the renal research community. Furthermore, production of mutant mice has allowed investigators outside the renal community to uncover unexpected renal phenotypes and enter into renal research.

The objective of the Physiology Core is to assist participating (established and new) renal investigators with a wide range of physiological techniques to study kidney physiology and diseases at the cellular, organ, and whole animal levels.

The Core will provide free services for certain assays; will provide advice, equipment and training to assist center investigators’ laboratories to perform other assays; and will arrange collaborations with core directors on certain techniques that require extensive effort and advanced training. 

Services

• Measurement of urine and serum Cr in mice by capillary electrophoresis.
• Measurement of serum and urine chemistry and blood gas.
• Microanalysis of serum and urine electrolytes.
• Blood pressure measurement in mice and rats by tail-cuff method. Equipment and training provided to investigators free of charge.
• Clearance Studies. Core will provide metabolic cages (10 available) and advice to investigators free of charge.
• Microdissection of tubules for quantitation of proteins/gene expression (By collaboration only.)
• Microperfusion studies of renal tubules (By collaboration only).
• Electrophysiological Studies of ion Channels by patch-clamp recordings (By collaboration only).

NOTE:  For requests submitted after July 31, 2012, there will be a $3/assay charge for creatinine assays and a $15/sample charge for chemistry panels and blood gas.

Sample Guidelines for Creatinine Analysis by Capillary Electrophoresis

(Effective 6/1/12)

Due to increasing demand and NIH mandates, new guidelines pertaining to sample submissions and allotted turn-around time are a necessity.

Cost per Sample: Serum/Plasma, Urine

 Sample Limits and Guidelines

• No more than SIXTY (60) samples can be submitted at a time.   Any samples exceeding this maximum will be analyzed as space allows as samples are fun for other investigators, with no time guarantee.
• Please label samples as 1, 2, 3…n;  and/or send an Excel file with the sample labels.
• Sample Volumes:   ≥25 µL 
• Sample volumes less than ≤20 µL can be accepted. However, processing will require more time (~1 additional week), and there is no guarantee.
• Any remaining samples will be kept at -20°C for up to 1 month; samples left beyond this time will be discarded. 
• Samples mailed will not be returned.
• If any creatinine data appears to be an outlier, and there is enough sample remaining, a second analysis will be performed.