Microinjection

To request microinjection services, please use our online service request form.

1. In the event that electroporation was previously performed at VAI and clones generated, customers are responsible for notifying the gene targeting facility as to which ES cell clones should be microinjected.
2. For customers who ship ES cells to the facility for microinjection, pathogen testing and karyotype analysis is required prior to injection. 
   
   Pathogen testing is performed by RADIL at the University of Missouri. The customer can ship the cells to RADIL for testing and send VAI paperwork demonstrating that the cells are pathogen-free. Alternatively, the customer can send the cells to VAI, where we will culture them and send aliquots to RADIL for testing. The customer will be billed for the cost of the testing.  (more information ) 
   
   Karyotype analysis, chromosome counting and Trisomy 8 FISH screen are performed by the VAI Cytogenetics Core. (more information)
   
   
3. Customers can request Spectral Karyotyping (SKY) of ES cell clones at additional expense.
4. Blastocysts will be isolated from 3.5-dpc C57BL/6 female mice that are mated to C57BL/6 males.
5. ES cell clones having a euploid karyotype will be microinjected into approximately 50 blastocysts. Injected blastocysts will be transferred to the uterine horns of pseudopregnant foster mothers.
6. Chimeric mice will be shipped to the customer at three weeks of age at the customer’s expense.