Animal and Phenotyping Core

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT ANIMAL AND PHENOTYPING CORE The Jackson Laboratory Nathan Shock Center (JAX NSC) provides unique animal models and novel human- relevant phenotyping methods to enhance preclinical aging research. Our studies employ a wide range of mouse models, including C57BL/6J and UM-HET3 mice, as well as genetically diverse models, including Diversity Outbred (DO) mice. In addition to animal resources, we develop robust phenotyping methods that are rigorously evaluated and refined for application in large-scale, non-invasive testing of aging mice. The core supports internal studies, such as the Reproductive Health and Lifespan (RH&L) study, which is proposed here, as well as projects for Pilot Program awardees and NSC collaborations. The core promotes the overarching goals of the NIA Nathan Shock Center Program through interactions with other JAX NSC cores, other NSCs, the NSC Coordinating Center (NSCCC), and the aging community at large. The Specific Aims of the Animal and Phenotyping Core are: Aim 1. Provide unique animal models to support aging research. The core provides access to aged C57BL/6J and UM-HET3 mice as well as genetically diverse mice to support aging research. Our studies use mice of both sexes and employ aging interventions such as senolytic drugs or caloric restriction. Aim 2. Enhance the characterization of animal models by providing robust and novel assays to evaluate human-relevant health effects of aging. The core develops and evaluates novel non-invasive clinical phenotyping procedures that can be assembled into high-throughput pipelines to address a variety of study objectives. We are increasingly using video-based phenotyping methods to evaluate physiology and behavior in aging mice. Aim 3. Implement a first-of-its-kind study to evaluate the effects of reproductive life history on late-life health and lifespan in female mice. We will initiate the RH&L study to examine the effects of nulliparous versus multiparous life history on the lifespan and late health of female mice. Aim 4. Generate primary data and tissue samples for dissemination to the aging community. The core supports aging research by generating data and tissue resources from our studies that are designed to address critical questions in the basic biology of aging.