Cardio-metabolic models and services
Offering in vivo and in vitro cardio-metabolic models to allow preclinical drug development for different etiologies
Performing your cardio-metabolic research with InnoSer allows you to uncover valuable insights into the mode of action, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and efficacy of your lead compounds. We support your research with our highly skilled technical and scientific team members and generate reliable and relevant data sets with state-of-the-art technologies. The translational InnoSer histopathological services improve your chances of clinical success.
Valuable aspects of InnoSer’s cardio-metabolic pipelines:
- Selection of disease models that cover a variety of etiologies of cardio-metabolic disease
- Centralized research with our full-service drug development options
- Optimal study design and execution by experts
- Specialized facilities and trained personnel equipped for reliable execution of technical cardiac surgeries and other technical procedures
- A full suite of (digital) histopathology assessments
Cardio-metabolic Models Overview
Heart-Failure Models:
Myocardial Infarction
Ischemic / Reperfusion
Transverse Aortic Constriction
Angiotensin II
Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Metabolic Models:
Type 2 Diabetic Rat
Type 1 Diabetes Models
NASH model
Find the right model for you. Download our cardio-metabolic leaflet and compare the model capabilities
Cardio-metabolic research with InnoSer
Powered by imaging capabilities
Particularly in vivo imaging has become a valuable tool for collecting mid-study data in animal studies. These non-invasive methods can be applied with high sensitivity and in real-time. With InnoSer’s imaging capabilities measure a variety of functional cardiac readouts customizeable to your research outcomes. These readouts can include cardiac function, infarct size, heart tissue mass, and ejection fraction.
Smart pathological assessment
Enhance the translational value of your cardio-metabolic research with a histopathological assessment of clinically relevant biomarkers. We can provide insights into inflammation, vascularization, hypertrophy and fibrosis using sound techniques and expert application. Supported by digital workflows for efficient and accurate results our histopathology services will see your research enhanced through technology. Read more >>
Fast study initiation with timely and insightful updates
Our cardio-metabolic models are initiated quickly and set up upon agreement with our dedicated cardio-metabolic study team. Timely updates enable you to closely follow the progression of your project and help inform and guide your research. We provide consulting on relevant endpoint analysis and help guide and inform your research with our expertise.
Myocardial Infarction
Key Model Readouts:
- Ultrasound left ventricular function
- Infarct size & area at risk
- Cardiac remodeling analysis
- Inflammation and scar formation
Infarct size after MI with and without treatment via sirius red
Ischemia / Reperfusion Model
Key Model Readouts:
- Ultrasound left ventricular function
- Infarct size & area at risk
- Cardiac remodeling analysis
- Inflammation and scar formation
Cross-sections of mice hearts subjected to ischemia/reperfusion with and without treatment (red area at risk, white infarct area, blue areas not perfused by the LAD)
Transverse Aortic Constriction
Key Model Readouts:
- Echocardiography left ventricular function
- Cardiac hypertrophy
- Fibrosis & remodelling
Fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy histopathology in healthy and TAC induced mice
Angiotensin II Hypertension
Key Model Readouts:
- Ultrasound left ventricular function
- Heart remodeling & fibrosis
- Hypertrophy
- Kidney function
Heart-weight/body-weight ratio to quantify cardiac remodeling
Diabetic / Cardiomyopathy Rat Model
Key Model Readouts:
- Ultrasound left ventricular function
- Glucose tolerance
- Metabolic profiling
- Cardiac hypertrophy
- Fibrosis & remodeling
Glycemic Control Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) Fasting
Glycemic Control Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) +60 min
Type 1 diabetes mouse models
We support both chemically induced type 1 diabetes mouse models and studies in genetic models. Test your investigational therapy for effect on glycemic control and glucose tolerance in fast and golden standard experimental diabetes mouse models with full tailoring flexibility. Our team has extensive experience in beta cell replacement therapy testing including cellular encapsulation in microcapsules and macrodevices or islet kidney capsule transplantation.
Key Model Readouts:
- Glucose monitoring
- Insulin secretion
- IPGTT, OGTT
- Islet cell composition
- In vitro insulin-secreted glucose secretion
- Diabetic kidney disease complications assessment
Glucose measurement for cell therapy treated diabetic mice after 14 days
Glucose tolerance test
Signs of diabetic kidney disease complications in chemically induced type 1 diabetes mouse model
NASH model
InnoSer offers a well validated and clinically translatable diet induced C57BL/6NTac Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model through Taconic. Animals are fed a modified Amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet resulting in progressive obesity, fatty liver, liver inflammation and fibrosis. NASH animals show insulin resistance, robust steatosis, hepatic inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning and activated stellate cells. This model allows researchers to implement a broad range of histopathology readouts and relevant intermediate biomarkers for long-term follow-up.
Key Model Readouts:
- Liver weight
- Liver inflammation & fibrosis histopathology
- Liver immune cell composition
- Inflammatory cytokines
Progressive fibrosis development as shown by Picrosirius red staining
Analysis of glucose levels of 4 month old control vs NASH model mice over 60 minutes
References
- Bourajjaj M, Armand AS, da Costa Martins PA, Weijts B, van der Nagel R, Heeneman S, Wehrens XH, De Windt LJ. NFATc2 is a necessary mediator of calcineurin-dependent cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. J Biol Chem. 2008 Aug 8;283(32):22295-303. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M801296200. Epub 2008 May 12. PMID: 18477567.
- el Azzouzi H, Leptidis S, Bourajjaj M, Armand AS, van der Nagel R, van Bilsen M, Da Costa Martins PA, De Windt LJ. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gene profiling uncovers insulin-like growth factor-1 as a PPARalpha target gene in cardioprotection. J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 22;286(16):14598-607. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.220525. Epub 2011 Jan 18. PMID: 21245137; PMCID: PMC3077657.
- Peters T, Hermans-Beijnsberger S, Beqqali A, Bitsch N, Nakagawa S, Prasanth KV, de Windt LJ, van Oort RJ, Heymans S, Schroen B. Long Non-Coding RNA Malat-1 Is Dispensable during Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Remodeling and Failure in Mice. PLoS One. 2016 Feb 26;11(2):e0150236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150236. PMID: 26919721; PMCID: PMC4769011.
- Raso A, Dirkx E, Philippen LE, Fernandez-Celis A, De Majo F, Sampaio-Pinto V, Sansonetti M, Juni R, El Azzouzi H, Calore M, Bitsch N, Olieslagers S, Oerlemans MIFJ, Huibers MM, de Weger RA, Reckman YJ, Pinto YM, Zentilin L, Zacchigna S, Giacca M, da Costa Martins PA, López-Andrés N, De Windt LJ. Therapeutic Delivery of miR-148a Suppresses Ventricular Dilation in Heart Failure. Mol Ther. 2019 Mar 6;27(3):584-599. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.11.011. Epub 2018 Nov 17. PMID: 30559069; PMCID: PMC6403487.
- Raso A, Dirkx E, Sampaio-Pinto V, El Azzouzi H, Cubero RJ, Sorensen DW, Ottaviani L, Olieslagers S, Huibers MM, de Weger R, Siddiqi S, Moimas S, Torrini C, Zentillin L, Braga L, Nascimento DS, da Costa Martins PA, van Berlo JH, Zacchigna S, Giacca M, De Windt LJ. A microRNA program regulates the balance between cardiomyocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy and stimulates cardiac regeneration. Nat Commun. 2021 Aug 10;12(1):4808. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25211-4. Erratum in: Nat Commun. 2022 Aug 25;13(1):4977. PMID: 34376683; PMCID: PMC8355162.
- Nilsson J, Hörnberg M, Schmidt-Christensen A, Linde K, Nilsson M, Carlus M, Erttmann SF, Mayans S, Holmberg D. NKT cells promote both type 1 and type 2 inflammatory responses in a mouse model of liver fibrosis. Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 11;10(1):21778. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-78688-2. PMID: 33311540; PMCID: PMC7732838.
- Deluyker D, Ferferieva V, Driesen RB, Verboven M, Lambrichts I, Bito V. Pyridoxamine improves survival and limits cardiac dysfunction after MI. Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 22;7(1):16010. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-16255-y. PMID: 29167580; PMCID: PMC5700185.
- Evens L, Beliën H, D’Haese S, Haesen S, Verboven M, Rummens JL, Bronckaers A, Hendrikx M, Deluyker D, Bito V. Combinational Therapy of Cardiac Atrial Appendage Stem Cells and Pyridoxamine: The Road to Cardiac Repair? Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 27;22(17):9266. doi: 10.3390/ijms22179266. PMID: 34502175; PMCID: PMC8431115.
- Verboven M, Cuypers A, Deluyker D, Lambrichts I, Eijnde BO, Hansen D, Bito V. High intensity training improves cardiac function in healthy rats. Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 4;9(1):5612. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42023-1. PMID: 30948751; PMCID: PMC6449502.
- Verboven M, Deluyker D, Ferferieva V, Lambrichts I, Hansen D, Eijnde BO, Bito V. Western diet given to healthy rats mimics the human phenotype of diabetic cardiomyopathy. J Nutr Biochem. 2018 Nov;61:140-146. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.08.002. Epub 2018 Aug 21. PMID: 30245335.
AAALAC Accreditation
InnoSer has earned the AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to responsible animal care and use. AAALAC International is a nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. Our accreditation is valid for three years, incl. 2023. Read more about the AAALAC accreditation programme here.
Animal Welfare
The 3Rs impact everything from policy and regulatory change to the development and uptake of new technologies and approaches. This is why Innoser has ongoing commitment and monitoring of these processes. The steps we practice maximize our ability to replace, reduce and refine animal involvement and facilitate our commitment to these principles when it comes to research and drug development.
Related Resources
Facility Management
Mouse Models Overview
Introducing InnoSer's Acceleration Program (ISAP)
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