Animal Models

Mechanical Testing

Histology

 

Established Models in Our Lab

Arthritis Models
Inflammatory arthritis models are created in the knee joints of rats or rabbits. Evaluation: macro obversation, radiographic, and histologic. See sample images

Biocompatibility Testing
Short- and long-term subcutaneous (F1408*), intramuscular (F763-87, F981-93), or intrabony (F981-93) implantations in rats and rabbits. Evaluation: x-ray, histology, and mechanical testing. See sample images

Bone and Cartilage Tissue Engineering (Soft Tissue Implantation Models)
In vivo testing of tissue regeneration using SC or IM implantation models in nude mice, nude rats, SD rats, or NZW rabbits. Evaluation: x-ray, histology, and mechanical testing. See sample images

Bone Defect/Grafting and Tissue Engineering
In vivo testing of bone grafting and tissue engineering principles using mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, goats or sheep, including nude mice soft tissue implantation models, radial or ulnar bone defect model, calvarial bone defect model, and distraction osteogenesis models. Evaluation: radiographic, histologic, and mechanical testing. See sample images

Bone Ingrowth to Implant Surfaces
In vivo testing of bone ingrowth to implant surfaces using rats, rabbits, dogs, goats or sheep, including models of long bone implantation and calvarial on-lay grafting. Methods of Evaluation: radiographic, histologic, and mechanical testing. See sample images

Cartilage Repair and Tissue Engineering
In vivo testing of tissue engineering principles using rabbits, pigs, goats or sheep. The main models include the intercondylar groove and condylar full-thickness articular cartilage defect model. Evaluation: radiographic, histologic, and mechanical testing (indentation test). See sample images

Distraction Osteogenesis
Rabbit or rat distraction osteogenesis models are used for testing distracted bone defect healing. Evaluation: radiographic, histologic, and mechanical testing (tensile or bending test). See sample images

Fracture Models
In vivo testing of bone healing after fracture using rats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, goats or sheep. Fractures are created by dropping weight or osteotomy. Evaluation: radiographic, histologic, and mechanical testing. See sample images

Heterotopic Ossification
Heterotopic ossification models in rabbits can be created, including the hip model (Rumi et al 2005) and the quadriceps model (Michelsson et al 1980). Evaluation: radiography, microCT, and histology.

Meniscal Defect and Transplantation Models
In vivo testing of mediscal defect repair and transplantation, using allograft or tissue engineered constructs. Evaluation: histological and mechanical testing (indentation test). See sample images

Ligament Anchor Testing
In vivo testing of the effects of bone or ligament fixation devices, such as bioabsorbable materials or ligament anchors. Evaluation: histological and mechanical testing. See sample images

Implant Infections and Osteomyelitis
Subcutaneous and bony infection models with or without implant in rats or rabbits. Evaluation: radiographic, histologic, and mechanical testing ( See sample images also see the recent article on rabbit tibial infection model)

Soft Tissue Attachment to Porous Implant Surfaces
In vivo testing of the effects of prosthetic surface coating on soft tissue ingrowth. Evaluation: histological and mechanical testing. See sample images

Spinal Fusion Models
Spinal fusion models using rats, rabbits, goats, or sheep for testing effects of bone substitutes. Evaluation: radiographic, histological, and mechanical testing. See sample images

Sternotomy Models
In vivo testing of the effect of bone wax on bone healing. Evaluation: mechanical testing, and histologic analysis.

Therapeutic Embolization
In vivo testing of effect of embolization agent using rat and/or rabbit kidney model and liver tumor model. Evaluation: macro and histologic analysis. See sample images

Vascular Grafting Models
A rat abdominal aorta grafting model has been performed in our laboratory.

* Article number of ASTM Standards 1997, Vol 13.01 Medical Devices; Emergency Medical Services. ASTM, Easton, MD 1997

Past and Current Contract Research Clients

Biomet
Cardiovascular Tissue Technologie
Ceramed
DePuy
Encore Orthopaedics
ETEX Corperation
Hoechst-Celanese
Marine Polymer Technologies
Organ Recovery System
Stryker/Howmedica/Osteonics
Sulzer Biologics, Xybrex

Animal Surgery Facility

 

The MUSC Surgical Research Laboratory is located on the 7th and 8th floors in the new Strom Thurmond Building. It is one of the best in the world for surgical research, headed by Professor M. Michael Swindle. The animal perdiem rates and surgery related costs are very competitive.