Services and Pricing

ES Cell Microinjection

Another popular method of generating transgenic mice is by injecting Embryonic Stem (ES) cells into an embryo. Only ES cells that have been selected for the DNA of interest are cultured and then injected into the cavity of a 3.5 day old embryo.

This service is also initiated when an investigator fills out a request form that includes a description of the ES cells to be injected, an approved animal care protocol number, and a brief description of the planned experiment. After approval and scheduling by a member of our staff, arrangements are made for the investigator to provide ES cells to the core on the day of a microinjection experiment. ES cells are then microinjected into the blastocoel cavity of a 3.5 day old embryo derived from natural matings of C57Bl/6 mice. After the injected embryos have been transferred into the uterus of a pseudopregnant recipient animal, the animals become the responsibility of the investigator and are housed under his/her animal protocol number. Pups will be born 17 days after injected blastocyst are transferred to a recipient animal. Once hair color has established, percentage of chimericism is noted. When pups are born, they are ready for weaning at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Chimeric pups will be moved to the investigators housing facility at 7 to 8 weeks of age.

The charge for blastocyst injections is $2,160 per successful day of experimentation. This is very cost-effective considering that Lexicon Genetics charges $11,400 for producing several chimeric mice from ES cell clones. It is also very expensive for investigators to learn and perform this procedure, as it requires dedicated instrumentation, a sizable colony of stud mice, and several months of practice.

This service is also performed using cells provided by the ES cell laboratory. This is preferred, as it simplifies the personnel interactions that are involved, and assures that the cells are correctly prepared. Two core personnel are capable of performing ES microinjections at times of increased demand.

The resource has generated over 1,800 chimeric animals for Vanderbilt investigators and has an overall efficiency rate of ~70% of injected blastocysts providing chimeric pups.