Diabetes and Energy Balance Core

Director, Michael W. Schwartz
(206) 341-5288
mschwart@u.washington.edu

Co-Director, Gregory J. Morton
(206) 341-5292
gjmorton@u.washington.edu

Associate Director, Mark H. Wener
(206) 598-6152
wener@u.washington.edu

Director, Renée C. LeBoeuf
(206) 543-5208
leboeuf@u.washington.edu

Precise, non-invasive, quantitative assessment of energy homeostasis in rodent models including energy expenditure, respiratory quotient, locomotor activity, body temperature, food intake, meal patterns and body composition.
Assessment of a variety of metabolic disease phenotypes associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes such as glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in mice.
Quantification of the extent of insulitis and other inflammatory parameters in mouse models of type 1 diabetes mellitus such as autoimmune NOD and hyperglycemic Akita mice and mice treated with pancreatic islet toxins.
Quantification using PCR approaches of the expression of genes in the hypothalamus and other sites involved in food intake, energy expenditure, and tissue complications of diabetes.
Quantification of circulating and/or tissue factors (e.g. hormones, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) associated with the metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 1 diabetes, or type 2 diabetes.
Longitudinal studies: To perform longitudinal studies in single animals as a function of age, diet or special treatment regimes using specific drugs or islet toxins.