- Home
-
Facts and numbers
-
Who works with laboratory animals?
- Researchers
Mouse research increases knowledge about atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is the cause of most cardiovascular diseases. Researcher Josefin Skogsberg conducts experiments in mice to study the mechanisms behind the disease.
“Mice are a good model for studying age-related diseases. They live only for about a year, so it´s possible to see how a disease develops over time," she says.
When Josefin Skogsberg studied biomedicine at the UniversityofUppsala she had no plans to work with animal research. Today she holds a research position at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and animal research has become part of her daily life.
“Initially it frightened me to hold mice. They noticed this immediately and became stressed. In the beginning I was bitten several times. But today I have no problems in handling mice."
Josefin Skogsberg takes out her mobile phone and illustrates how to hold a mouse in the best way. She places her hand over the phone and, using her forefinger and thumb, takes a firm grip on its sides.
“I´m no longer afraid of the animals, but continue to have great respect for them. It´s important to maintain this respect; we are working with living creatures," she remarks.
Josefin Skogsberg´s research deals with atherosclerosis, or arteriosclerosis as it is also called. In simple terms, it deals with fat in the blood that attaches to the vessel wall and forms plaque. In the long run this can lead to blood clots, and in the worst case it can result in heart attack or stroke.
Atherosclerosis has many causes and can become worse from smoking, stress, and fatty foods. However, genetic factors are also important.
“There are many genes that affect atherosclerosis. I´m studying how the various genes interact," says Josefin Skogsberg.
To study this, she uses mice that have been made to develop arteriosclerosis. She measures what percent of the blood vessels in these mice have become occluded by plaque at different ages. Every fifth week she takes blood samples from the mice to measure the percentage of different blood lipids. She also takes tissue samples from the mice to see what genes are active during the different phases of the disease.
Her work is very independent. Josefin Skogsberg designed the study together with the principal investigator of the group, but basically conducts the study herself. She is assisted by a laboratory technician who measures the activity of different genes in the tissue samples.
Three days per week she visits the animal facility to meet with animal handlers and see how the animals are doing.
Josefin Skogsberg would like to continue working with cardiovascular diseases in the future.
“This is important research. Cardiovascular diseases constitute one of the most common causes of death in Sweden today. We need to learn more about these diseases," she says.
When Josefin Skogsberg studied biomedicine at the UniversityofUppsala she had no plans to work with animal research. Today she holds a research position at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and animal research has become part of her daily life.
“Initially it frightened me to hold mice. They noticed this immediately and became stressed. In the beginning I was bitten several times. But today I have no problems in handling mice."
Josefin Skogsberg takes out her mobile phone and illustrates how to hold a mouse in the best way. She places her hand over the phone and, using her forefinger and thumb, takes a firm grip on its sides.
“I´m no longer afraid of the animals, but continue to have great respect for them. It´s important to maintain this respect; we are working with living creatures," she remarks.
Studying genetic interaction
Josefin Skogsberg´s research deals with atherosclerosis, or arteriosclerosis as it is also called. In simple terms, it deals with fat in the blood that attaches to the vessel wall and forms plaque. In the long run this can lead to blood clots, and in the worst case it can result in heart attack or stroke.
Atherosclerosis has many causes and can become worse from smoking, stress, and fatty foods. However, genetic factors are also important.
“There are many genes that affect atherosclerosis. I´m studying how the various genes interact," says Josefin Skogsberg.
To study this, she uses mice that have been made to develop arteriosclerosis. She measures what percent of the blood vessels in these mice have become occluded by plaque at different ages. Every fifth week she takes blood samples from the mice to measure the percentage of different blood lipids. She also takes tissue samples from the mice to see what genes are active during the different phases of the disease.
Important research area
Her work is very independent. Josefin Skogsberg designed the study together with the principal investigator of the group, but basically conducts the study herself. She is assisted by a laboratory technician who measures the activity of different genes in the tissue samples.
Three days per week she visits the animal facility to meet with animal handlers and see how the animals are doing.
Josefin Skogsberg would like to continue working with cardiovascular diseases in the future.
“This is important research. Cardiovascular diseases constitute one of the most common causes of death in Sweden today. We need to learn more about these diseases," she says.
Text: Karl-Johan Börjesson
Responsible for content: Mats Ulfendahl, Secretary General of Medicine and health, Swedish Research Council.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
