Z4

Z4: Core facility for non human primates (NHP)

The German Primate Center (DPZ) has a long term experience in breeding and keeping non-human primates, as well as in developing and using animal models. The various research groups of the SFB-TRR-127 are provided with well characterised non-human primates of defined origin. Depending on the scientists’ requirements, baboons (Papio hamadryas), macaques (Macaca mulatta, Macaca fascicularis) and common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) will be supplied from the breeding colonies of the DPZ or imported from reliable and licensed breeding colonies inside and outside Europe. The DPZ guarantees the appropriate keeping, accommodation and care of the animals under conditions documented in the European Directive 2010/63/EU (directive on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes) and the EU Recommendations 2007/526/EG (guidelines for the accommodation and care of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes). This includes health monitoring, housing conditions, primate husbandry, care and environmental enrichment. These conditions are consistent with the regulations of the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by the National Research Council (USA). The three Rs are considered using the 3Rs Guidelines for Primate Accommodation, Care and Use by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (UK).

The German Primate Center in Göttingen will provide the SFB-127 its infrastructure and specialized expertise of staff for preclinical pig-to-primate xenotransplantation experiments (C3, C4, C7, C8) as a service. Macaques and baboons are used as recipient animals, which are kept in stock in the breeding facilities at the DPZ. In addition, experiments of multi-transgenic hearts are supported by pre experimental blood withdrawal and storage (C8). DPZ is directly involved in organization, preparation and implementation of preclinical islet xenotransplantation studies (C3, C4) and projected experiments with heart valves (C7) in NHPs.