Surgical Mouse Models

Unlock the potential of groundbreaking metabolic disease research and enhance drug efficacy testing by leveraging the advanced surgical mouse models, such as PDX and bariatric surgery, offered by the Mouse Biology Program at UC Davis.


The Mouse Biology Program at UC Davis supports metabolic disease research and drug testing using surgical mouse models like Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDX) and bariatric surgery models. These models help study genetic, metabolic, and therapeutic interactions, with PDX enabling drug testing on human tumor tissues for personalized medicine insights with the following surgical models:

PDX

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) modeling at the Mouse Biology Program is a technique where human tumor tissues are implanted into immunocompromised mice. This allows researchers to study the growth and behavior of human cancers in a living organism, providing valuable insights into tumor biology and the efficacy of potential treatments. PDX models are beneficial for personalized medicine research, as they can be used to test the effectiveness of drugs on patient-specific tumors.

Bariatric Surgery Models

Bariatric surgery models in mice study the effects of weight loss surgeries on obesity and related metabolic conditions. Common models include:

  • Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG): This involves removing a portion of the stomach, leaving a smaller, tube-like stomach. It mimics human procedures and helps researchers study weight loss and metabolic changes.
  • Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB): This surgery involves creating a small pouch from the stomach and connecting it directly to the small intestine, bypassing a large part of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. It is known for its significant weight loss and metabolic benefits.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) Models

RYGB models are specifically designed to study the effects of this surgery on conditions like type 2 diabetes. These models closely replicate the human procedure and are used to investigate:

  • Weight Loss: RYGB and VSG models show sustained weight loss in mice.
  • Metabolic Improvements: RYGB models demonstrate fasting blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity improvements.
  • Organ Health: Post-operative analysis often includes examining the liver, pancreas, and other organs for histopathological changes.

These models are crucial for understanding the mechanisms behind cancer and for developing new treatments for obesity and metabolic diseases.