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Metabolic Research

Metabolic Disease Mouse Models

Since 1998, ingenious targeting laboratory has supported metabolic disease researchers with custom mouse models contributing to peer reviewed publications in Diabetes, Cell Metabolism, Nature Medicine, and leading metabolism journals worldwide.

Our metabolic disease mouse models have advanced understanding of glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and the pathophysiology of obesity related complications.

2,500+
Projects Completed
800+
Publications
26+
Years Experience
100%
Success Rate

Metabolic Disease Categories

Diabetes Mouse Models

  • Immune gene modifications for T1D
  • Beta cell specific deletions
  • Liver specific knockouts for hepatic glucose production
  • Adipose specific knockouts for adipokine signaling

Obesity Mouse Models

  • Leptin pathway modifications
  • Adipocyte specific knockouts
  • Hypothalamic gene deletions
  • Brown adipose thermogenesis models

NASH and Liver Disease

  • Hepatocyte specific knockouts
  • Stellate cell modifications for fibrosis
  • Kupffer cell knockouts for inflammation
  • Diet induced models with genetic susceptibility

Metabolic Tissue Cre Drivers

Cre DriverTarget TissueApplications
Albumin CreHepatocytesGlucose production, lipid metabolism
Adiponectin CreAdipocytesLipid storage, adipokine secretion
Insulin Cre / Pdx1 CreBeta cellsInsulin secretion, beta cell mass
MyoD Cre / MCK CreSkeletal muscleGlucose uptake, insulin sensitivity
Nestin CreHypothalamusCentral metabolic regulation
LysM CreMacrophagesMetabolic inflammation

Strain Background Considerations

C57BL/6J

Susceptible to diet induced obesity; Nnt mutation affects insulin secretion

C57BL/6N

Different metabolic profile; intact Nnt gene

BALB/c

Relatively resistant to diet induced obesity

129 strains

Variable metabolic phenotypes depending on substrain

Selected Publications

Turner MB et al. (2025).

Adipocyte specific deletion of the mineralocorticoid receptor improves glucose homeostasis.

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 27(5): 2341-2355

Vacher CM et al. (2021).

Placental endocrine function shapes cerebellar development and social behavior.

Nature Neuroscience 24(10): 1392-1401

What Researchers Say

The Hephaestin flox model ingenious has made for us has been great. It has helped generate eight research publications.

Joshua Dunaief, PhD, MD

University of Pennsylvania

Start Your Metabolic Disease Model Project

Our scientific consultants are ready to discuss your metabolic research requirements and recommend the optimal model design for your program.

✦ New for 2026

Breeding Scheme Architect

Plan complex multi-allele breeding strategies, calculate expected genotype ratios, and estimate time to experimental cohorts—all before starting your project.

Visualize multi-generation breeding paths
Calculate Mendelian ratios automatically
Estimate timeline to study-ready cohorts

Free Research Tool

No account required

Allele 1Gene-flox (conditional)
Allele 2Cre-driver (tissue-specific)
TargetHomozygous knockout

→ 3 generations to target genotype

Frequently asked questions

Common metabolic Cre drivers include Insulin Cre (beta cells), Albumin Cre (liver), MCK Cre (muscle), Adiponectin Cre (adipose tissue), and Nestin Cre (hypothalamus). Selection depends on whether you are studying insulin secretion, glucose production, insulin action, or central metabolic control.

C57BL/6J has a mutation in the Nnt gene that affects insulin secretion, making them more susceptible to diabetes. C57BL/6N has intact Nnt and different metabolic characteristics. Choose based on whether you want diabetes susceptibility (6J) or intact insulin secretion (6N).

Standard assays include glucose tolerance testing (GTT), insulin tolerance testing (ITT), fasting glucose and insulin levels, body composition analysis (DEXA or MRI), and indirect calorimetry. Advanced studies may include hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps and islet perifusion.

Obesity models typically involve high fat diet feeding combined with genetic modifications affecting adipose tissue, liver, or central metabolism. Conditional knockouts in adipose (Adiponectin Cre) or liver (Albumin Cre) can be combined with dietary challenges to study gene environment interactions.

Lab Signals

Metabolic Disease Research Insights

Expert research insights delivered biweekly. Written by PhD scientists, designed for researchers who need cutting-edge knowledge to advance their projects.

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