Live animal resource for aging research: mole rats, horses, and spiny mice

University Of Rochester, Rochester NY

Investigators

Abstract

Summary: The goal of the Live Animal Resource Core within the Upstate NY Nathan Shock Center is to provide investigators across the nation access to unconventional mammalian models of aging and longevity. Mammals differ over 100-fold in their maximum lifespans. Identifying the mechanisms responsible for longevity of the long- lived mammals can lead to development of interventions that are based on the evolutionarily selected mechanisms of longevity and health. However, access to these animal models is limited as they are not available from commercial vendors, and many require specialized housing conditions or infrastructure. The proposed Live Animal Resource Core will address this unmet need and provide investigators in the Geroscience field access to valuable animal models, specimens and advice on experimental design and husbandry of these animals. Investigators nationwide could use this Core to generate valuable insights that will then be validated by them using model organisms and eventually translated to clinical interventions. We will focus on the following mammalian species for which we currently have breeding cohorts at the University of Rochester and Cornell: The naked mole rat (NMR) is the longest-lived rodent species with the maximum lifespan of 41 years, highly resistant to multiple age-related diseases. Damaraland mole rat (DMR) is a short-lived African mole rat with the maximum lifespan of 15.5 years which is closely related to the naked mole rat. African spiny mouse (ASM) has emerged as model of scarless regeneration in a wide range of tissues including skin, muscle and spinal cord. The horse is a domestic animal that co-existed with humans for millennium that receives high levels of medical care based on well characterized pathophysiology. The horse has the maximum lifespan of 57 years and is an emerging model of both longevity and reproductive aging. Rochester and Cornell Universities are uniquely positioned to develop these resources and make them more widely available. This core is directed by Drs. Seluanov and de Mestre. Dr. Seluanov has established successful breeding colonies of NMRs, DMRs, and ASM and achieved significant progress in understanding the mechanisms of NMR longevity and disease resistance. Dr. de Mestre is a veterinary scientist with extensive experience using horses to study basic biological processes which includes the first comprehensive characterization of chromosomal instability in non-human miscarriage. Our Aims are: (1) Provide advice on study design involving unconventional animal models for aging research. (2) Maintain and expand NMRs, DMRs, ASMs, and horses for use in biogerontological research. (3) Develop the horse as a model of reproductive aging and miscarriage. (4) Develop projects with investigators interested in using these species for biogerontological research. (5) Provide investigators with custom collected samples not covered by the Frozen Zoo Core. (6) Collaborate with Comparative Omics core to generate foundational datasets. (7) Provide tissue to the Frozen Zoo core to replenish collections. (8) Maintain the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocols.