Preclinical Phenotyping
Mouse in vivo test systems and surgical services
The preclinical phenotyping facility (pcPHENO) provides state-of-the-art equipment and services for in vivo testing of mouse behavior, metabolism, and physiology as well as surgical services..
After training and under expert supervision, researchers can perform experiments by themselves or use our services, ranging from planning and performing experiments to final data analysis and interpretation.
Contact us or visit our Info Hub
Behavioral tests
We offer a wide range of mouse behavioral tests including the following neurological areas:
- motoric functions
- learning and memory processes
- anxiety-like and depressive behavior
- social behavior
- repetitive behavior
- sensory functions (olfaction, acoustic functions, vision, thermal and mechanical nociception)
To read more about the range of behavioral tests we can perform, please click here.
Metabolic measurements
We can measure the metabolic parameters of mice during the day and night under defined light-cycle, temperature, and humidity conditions, automatically measuring food intake, liquid intake, respiratory exchange rate, calorie consumption, and home cage or running wheel activity. We can offer preference tests for different diets or liquids, or feeding experiments with controlled access to food.
Cardiovascular, body temperature, EEG measurements
We can measure heart rate, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure in restrained mice at chosen time points using a non-invasive tail cuff method.
Alternatively, we offer the possibility of performing continuous telemetry recordings using implanted transmitters that record the electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure within the aortic arch. These measurements can be recorded at chosen sample intervals or continuously as the mouse moves freely in the cage. We can also record the core body temperature and/or electroencephalograms (EEG) using implanted telemetry transmitters.
Surgical & dissection services
We offer a wide range of surgeries on mice including:
- implantation of telemetry transmitters, mini-osmotic pumps, or optogenetic fibers
- application of lenses for calcium-imaging
- microdialysis
- creating models of traumatic brain injury
- stereotactic injections
- perfusions
- blood and cerebrospinal fluid sampling
- dissection of all organ types
A highlighted selection of the equipment available
The IntelliCage allows us to assess cognitive functions and behavior of individual mice while living in a social environment. Mice are automatically identified by the system using subcutaneously implanted RFID chips and a broad spectrum of conditioning paradigms can be run in an automated experimenter-independent manner. Read more...
The Noldus CatWalk system allows for high-throughput gait analysis under non-stressful conditions as well as detailed footprint analysis. A detailed footprint analysis with intensities of body weight distribution can give indications about the motoric functions of the mice and can detect e.g., pain-related weight shifts. In addition, the gait pattern can be analyzed from below. Read more...
The following parameters can be measured from up to 12 single-housed mice:
- food consumption
- liquid consumption
- oxygen consumption
- CO2 production
- locomotion activity plus rearing activity
- running wheel activity
The PhenoMaster cages are located inside a climate chamber allowing for user-defined light-cycle, temperature, and humidity.
The following parameters can be measured continuously using implanted telemetry transmitters:
- core body temperature
- locomotor activity
- electrocardiogram
- electroencephalogram
- blood pressure
These measurements can also be made inside the PhenoMaster and thus combined with other metabolic parameters.
VBCF PRECLINICAL PHENOTYPING TEAM
SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS
Inducible protein degradation reveals inflammation-dependent function of the Treg cell lineage–defining transcription factor Foxp3. Christina Jäger, Polina Dimitrova, Qiong Sun, Jesse Tennebroek, Elisa Marchiori, Markus Jaritz, Rene Rauschmeier, Guillem Estivill, Anna Obenauf, Meinrad Busslinger, Joris van der Veeken. 2025 Jun 6;10(108):eadr7057. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adr7057. Epub 2025 Jun 6.
Gpcpd1-GPC metabolic pathway is dysfunctional in aging and its deficiency severely perturbs glucose metabolism. Domagoj Cikes, Michael Leutner, Shane J F Cronin, Maria Novatchkova, Lorenz Pfleger, Radka Klepochová, Benjamin Lair, Marlène Lac, Camille Bergoglio, Nathalie Viguerie, Gerhard Dürnberger, Elisabeth Roitinger, Mihaela Grivej, Eric Rullman, Thomas Gustafsson, Astrid Hagelkruys, Geneviève Tavernier, Virginie Bourlier, Claude Knauf, Michael Krebs, Alexandra Kautzky-Willer, Cedric Moro, Martin Krssak, Michael Orthofer, Josef M Penninger. 2024 Jan;4(1):80-94.doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00551-6. Epub 2024 Jan 18.
ACOD1 deficiency offers protection in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity by maintaining a healthy gut microbiota. Tanja Eberhart, Federico Uchenna Stanley, Luisa Ricci 1, Tiziana Chirico, Roberto Ferrarese, Sofia Sisti, Alessandra Scagliola, Andreina Baj, Sylvia Badurek, Andreas Sommer, Rachel Culp-Hill, Monika Dzieciatkowska, Engy Shokry, David Sumpton, Angelo D'Alessandro, Nicola Clementi, Nicasio Mancini, Simone Cardaci. 2024 Feb 1;15(2):105. doi: 10.1038/s41419-024-06483-2. PMID:38302438
Generation of complex bone marrow organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Frenz-Wiessner S, Fairley SD, Buser M, Goek I, Salewskij K, Jonsson G, Illig D, Zu Putlitz B, Petersheim D, Li Y, Chen PH, Kalauz M, Conca R, Sterr M, Geuder J, Mizoguchi Y, Megens RTA, Linder MI, Kotlarz D, Rudelius M, Penninger JM, Marr C, Klein C. Nat Methods. 2024 May;21(5):868-881. doi: 10.1038/s41592-024-02172-2. Epub 2024 Feb 19. PMID: 38374263; PMCID: PMC11093744.
A whole-genome scan for Artemisinin cytotoxicity reveals a novel therapy for human brain tumors. Taubenschmid-Stowers J, Orthofer M, Laemmerer A, Krauditsch C, Rózsová M, Studer C, Lötsch D, Gojo J, Gabler L, Dyczynski M, Efferth T, Hagelkruys A, Widhalm G, Peyrl A, Spiegl-Kreinecker S, Hoepfner D, Bian S, Berger W, Knoblich JA, Elling U, Horn M, Penninger JM.EMBO Mol Med. 2023 Mar 8;15(3):e16959. doi: 10.15252/emmm.202216959. Epub 2023 Feb 6.PMID: 36740985
PCYT2-regulated lipid biosynthesis is critical to muscle health and ageing. Cikes D, Elsayad K, Sezgin E, Koitai E, Ferenc T, Orthofer M, Yarwood R, Heinz LX, Sedlyarov V, Miranda ND, Taylor A, Grapentine S, Al-Murshedi F, Abot A, Weidinger A, Kutchukian C, Sanchez C, Cronin SJF, Novatchkova M, Kavirayani A, Schuetz T, Haubner B, Haas L, Hagelkruys A, Jackowski S, Kozlov A, Jacquemond V, Knauf C, Superti-Furga G, Rullman E, Gustafsson T, McDermot J, Lowe M, Radak Z, Chamberlain JS, Bakovic M, Banka S, Penninger JM. Nat Metab. 2023 Mar 20. doi: 10.1038/s42255-023-00766-2. Epub ahead of print.
Z-Disk-Associated Plectin (Isoform 1d): Spatial Arrangement, Interaction Partners, and Role in Filamin C Homeostasis. Winter L, Staszewska-Daca I, Zittrich S, Elhamine F, Zrelski MM, Schmidt K, Fischer I, Jüngst C, Schauss A, Goldmann WH, Stehle R, Wiche G.Cells. 2023 Apr 26;12(9):1259. doi: 10.3390/cells12091259.PMID: 37174658
A systematic review of the development and application of home cage monitoring in laboratory mice and rats. Pia Kahnau, Paul Mieske, Jenny Wilzopolski, Otto Kalliokoski, Silvia Mandillo, Sabine M. Hölter, Vootele Voikar, Adriana Amfim, Sylvia Badurek, Aleksandra Bartelik, Angela Caruso, Maša Čater, Elodie Ey, Elisabetta Golini, Anne Jaap, Dragan Hrncic, Anna Kiryk, Benjamin Lang, Natasa Loncarevic-Vasiljkovic, Hamid Meziane, Aurelija Radzevičienė, Marion Rivalan, Maria Luisa Scattoni, Nicolas Torquet, Julijana Trifkovic, Brun Ulfhake, Christa Thöne-Reineke, Kai Diederich, Lars Lewejohann & Katharina Hohlbaum. BMC Biology. 2023 Nov 13. doi.org/10.1186/s12915-023-01751-7
Adult neural stem cells and neurogenesis are resilient to intermittent fasting Rut Gabarró-Solanas, Amarbayasgalan Davaatseren, Justus Kleifeld, Tatjana Kepčija, Thomas Köcher, Albert Giralt, Iván Crespo-Enríquez, Noelia Urbán. EMBO Rep. 2023 Nov 21.doi: 10.15252/embr.202357268. Online ahead of print.