The mouse, because of its small size, typically has presented a formidable technical challenge for safe resection and reanastomosis of the small bowel. With the advent of transgenic technology, the mouse is the ideal animal for characterization of adaptation following small bowel resection, because the expression of candidate factors considered essential may be genetically abolished or amplified.
Further, transgenic models permit a means to understand temporal, spatial and stimulus-responsive regulation of gene expression. Our laboratory has perfected a murine model for small bowel resection with a resultant survival of greater than 80 percent.
Educational Opportunities
The Intestinal Adaptation Laboratory has educational opportunities at all educational levels — undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate, from summer projects to degree-granting programs.