Color-engineered rats and luminescent LacZ imaging: a new platform to visualize biological processes

Takashi Murakami M.D.; Eiji Kobayashi M.D.

doi:10.1117/1.2007947

1 July 2005 Color-engineered rats and luminescent LacZ imaging: a new platform to visualize biological processes

Takashi Murakami M.D., Eiji Kobayashi M.D.

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 10, Issue 4, 041204 (July 2005). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2007947

Abstract

The rat represents an excellent mammalian model for broadening medical knowledge, and a wealth of information on its physiology has been obtained from its use as an experimental organism. Furthermore, its ample body size allows various surgical manipulations that cannot be performed on a mouse. Many rat models mimic human diseases and have therefore been used in a variety of biomedical studies, including physiology, pharmacology, and transplantation. In an effort to create specifically designed rats for new biomedical research and the field of regenerative medicine, we develop an engineered rat system on the basis of transgenic technology and succeed in establishing unique rats that possess genetically encoded color probes: green fluorescent protein (GFP), DsRed2 (red liver), Cre/LoxP (red to green), and LacZ (blue and luminescence). In this work, we highlight their characteristics and describe recent applications for tissue engineering and regeneration. Coupled with recent progress in modern imaging systems, these transgenic rats are providing powerful tools for the elucidation of many cellular processes in biomedical science, and may lead to innovative medical treatments.

©(2005) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Takashi Murakami M.D. and Eiji Kobayashi M.D. "Color-engineered rats and luminescent LacZ imaging: a new platform to visualize biological processes," Journal of Biomedical Optics 10(4), 041204 (1 July 2005). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2007947

Published: 1 July 2005

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