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CVI Core Labs

The Penn CVI has established basic, translational and clinical research core laboratories with specialized expertise available to all of its faculty members.

Cardiac Myocyte Core

Information – Dr. Ken Margulies »
Core Website »
The Cardiac Myocyte Core is a component of the Myocyte Biology and Heart Failure program unit of the Penn CVI. This core is designed as a central resource for assisting CVI investigators with experiments requiring isolated cardiac myocytes. Services offered include provision of neonatal rodent myocytes for cell culture experiments, isolation of adult myocytes from a variety of mammalian species, isolated myocyte morphometric analyses and in vitro physiological studies examining cell shortening and responses to agonists. Upon request, interested investigators can receive training that will allow them to perform cell isolations or analyses independently.

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Histology and Gene Expression Core

Information – Dr. Min Min Lu
Core Website »
The Histology and Gene Expression Core Facility within the Cardiovascular Institute is directed by Dr. Min Min Lu and provides core services for selected members as determined by the oversight committee. The core is partially funded by a program project grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute entitled "Molecular mechanisms of vascular heterogeneity and function." Core services include routine fixation of pathological specimens for frozen sections or paraffin embedded sections, sectioning and routine staining of tissue blocks with specialty stains developed and performed as necessary. The core performs extensive in situ hybridization studies using both radioactive and non radioactive techniques on whole mount specimens and on tissue sections. In addition, immunohistochemistry using fluorescent and enzymatic substrate detection methods are routinely performed. The core has extensive experience in optimization of antigen unmasking and immunohistochemistry detection. Polyclonal antibodies are purified and characterized within the core. The core is staffed with three or four full time histologists and major equipment includes a cryostat, four microtomes, paraffin embedding station, vibratome and related equipment.

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Microscopy Core

Information – Dr. Andrea Stout, (215) 573-3942
Core Website »
The Microscopy Core Facility within the Cardiovascular Institute, directed by Dr. Andrea Stout, is equipped with a variety of light microscopes that meet the diverse needs of CVI researchers. Instruments include a Leica stereomicroscope for sample inspection as well as several upright microscopes with standard three-color filter cubes and cameras for routine wide field epifluorescence imaging of fluorescently-stained samples. A Leica TCS SP2 confocal microscope equipped with three visible-light lasers is available to those who need the resolving power of a confocal and versatility of spectral detection. The core also provides assistance in image processing and analysis.

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Mouse CV Physiology and Microsurgery Core

Information – Dr. Tao Wang, (215) 898-2656, Room 982 BRB II/III
Core Website »
The core, directed by Dr. Tao Wang, is dedicated to the phenotypic assessment of cardiovascular function in genetically altered mice, since the availability of well-defined genetic strains and the ability to create transgenic and knockout mice makes mouse models extremely valuable biomedical tools. The core is designed to provide many types of service to Molecular Cardiology Research Center (MCRC). We obtain in vivo phenotypic data from transgenic and knockout mice using following microsurgical models and state-of-the-art physiologic analysis. We also offer microsurgery trainings and technique assistance for faculty, staff, fellows and students whose work requires microsurgical manipulations.

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Physiology Core

Information – Dr. Vic Patel, (215) 898-5475
The Physiology Core within the Cardiovascular Institute allows appropriate Cardiovascular Institute investigators to perform in vivo physiologic cardiovascular analysis of small animal models including rats and mice. Equipment and protocols developed within the core allow investigators to measure real time heart rate and rhythm using implantable telemetry devices. Surface electrocardiograms and invasive electrophysiological testing is performed under the direction of Dr. Vic Patel. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring of both left and right heart allows for direct measurements of cardiovascular pressures and function. Ischemia reperfusion models have been developed and validated using coronary ligation and fluorescent microsphere techniques to assess "myocardium at risk." In combination with the Histology and Gene Expression Core Facility histologic analysis of infracted myocardium is performed. Carotid injury models to examine vascular restenosis have also been developed. Micro pump implantation to deliver constant infusion of substances including isoproteranol and angiotension II are also performed. Equipment within the core includes intubation and anesthesia apparati, telemetry recording instruments, electrophysiology recording devices and appropriate electrical and pressure recording catheters.

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Transgenic and Knockout Core

Information – Ms. Diane Zhou
Core Website »
The Transgenic and Knockout Core Facility within the Cardiovascular Institute is a fully functional transgenic facility directed by Ms. Diane Zhou. The core facility performs transgenic and knockout experiments in collaboration with Cardiovascular Institute investigators as directed by the oversight committee. The core is partially funded by a program project grant entitled "Molecular mechanisms of vascular heterogeneity and function" from the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The core is designed to generate transgenic mice from appropriate recombinant DNA constructs by injection of fertilized eggs and reimplantation into pseudo-pregnant female mice. In addition, the core has significant experience and success in the generation of knockout mice by injection of appropriately targeted embryonic stem cells into blastocysts followed by reimplantation. The core is also proficient with cryopreservation of mouse embryos for long term storage, cryopreservation of sperm and rederivation of mouse lines.

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