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Transgenic and Experimental Animal Unit

The Transgenic and Experimental Animal Unit (UATE) specializes in the production of transgenic mice by pronuclear DNA microinjection,  homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and lentivirus injection, generating animal models for research in biomedicine. In addition, the unit provides cryopreservation of embryos and sperm by slow freezing or vitrification techniques, in vitro fertilization, and rederivation of murine lines.

UATE provides also breeding and housing services under SPF (specific pathogen free) conditions for researchers of the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo and other research centres as well.

Inbred strains C57BL6/J, BALB/cJ, SJL/J, DBA/2J, F1 B6SJL and outbred stocks of SWISS WEBSTER/CRL, as well as many knock-out and transgenic lines are maintained in the unit.

Services must be requested through email or personally, filling out the corresponding application form in the web page (Services: Request Forms).                                     
                                                                                                                                                                     

Facility

The animal facility of the Transgenic and Experimental Animal Unit is located in the main building of the institute, distributed in three housing rooms, a laboratory for embryo collection and embryo transfer and another laboratory for embryo microinjection.  Controlled temperature of 19-21ºC, relative humidity of 70% and dark-light cycles of 10-14 hours are the standard conditions in our animal house. Mice are housed in individually ventilated cages (IVC).

In addition, a quarantine room with individually ventilated cages with negative pressure is used for animals arriving from external animal facilities, in order to be rederived.

UATE is regulated by law Nº 18611  Utilización de Animales en Actividades de Experimentación, Docencia e Investigación Científica (2009 - Uruguay).

All experimental procedures carried out by the researchers must be previously accepted by the Ethics Committee in Animal Use (CEUA) of the Institute. Users must be acquainted with the functioning and general rules of the animal house before beginning to work, receiving a short training from the Unit personnel.

Head

  • Martina Crispo, DVM

Members

  • Geraldine Schlapp, MSc (Technician)
  • Lucía Goyeneche, BqC (Technician)
  • Ana Paula Arévalo, Bach (Technician)
  • Gabriel Fernández, Bach (Technician, animal caretaker)
  • Sergio Anchetta (animal caretaker)

Previous Members

  • Magdalena Cárdenas, MSc (Technician)
  • Karen Perelmuter, MSc (Technician)
  • Sofía Ramírez, Bach (Technician)
  • Patricia Blanco, Bach (Technician)