In vivo models : research tools for integrated preclinical studies

This is ideal for investigating the impact of a high-fat diet on gut permeability and its downstream effects, including antioxidant capacity, gut motility, immune response, and the function of the enteric nervous system, gut microbiota dysbiosis. It helps unravel the complex interactions between the gut barrier and systemic health.

This provides valuable insights into inflammatory bowel diseases, enabling studies on oxidative stress, mucosal healing, gut motility and immune cell behaviour in inflamed tissues. It is a key tool for understanding inflammation and its effects on gut integrity.

Designed to address gastrointestinal motility issues, this model allows for a comprehensive analysis of bowel transit, motility patterns, and intestinal absorption, offering a deeper understanding of digestive health and dysfunction. 

Focuses on rapid transit and fluid loss associated with diarrheal conditions, this model assesses epithelial integrity, permeability, and microbiota dynamics, making it essential for testing new compounds for gut disorders. 

Using Xylose testing and stomach contractions, we can assess the impact of compounds on gastric emptying velocity.

• Co-culture of Intestinal Epithelial & Immune Cells: This in vitro model focuses on immune response and inflammation. 

• 2D Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Simplifies the study of absorption and permeability. 

• 3D Epithelial Tissues: Offers a more realistic model of the gut barrier for in-depth research.

• Enteroendocrine Cells: allows to study incretin release and its impact on satiety and eating behavior. 

Additionally, we conduct active compound fermentation tests to simulate how the microbiota processes compounds before absorption, bringing us even closer to the physiological situation. 

These in vitro models support investigations into key aspects such as cell viability, cytotoxicity, antioxidant capacity, immunomodulation, permeability, gut barrier function, absorption, as well as cell renewal and differentiation.

At Enterosys, we employ stress-induced anxiety and depression models to explore the gut-brain axis in depth. Our in vivo systems enable comprehensive studies in areas such as: 

• antioxidant capacity 

• neurotransmission 

• central nervous system activity 

• blood-brain barrier permeability 

• cognitive functions 

• immunomodulation 

• gut motility 

• enteric nervous system activity 

• gut permeability and barrier function 

• intestinal absorption (linked to neurodegenerative disorders) 

This integrated approach provides crucial insights into how the gut influences brain health, offering a pathway for compounds targeting this axis. 

Our in vivo models allow precise monitoring of body weight regulation by tracking key parameters: body weight, water and food intake. This comprehensive tracking provides critical insights into how your compound affect weight control over time. The model’s ability to monitor these variables is crucial for understanding how the gut-adipose axis influences energy balance, feeding behaviour, and fat storage, helping to assess the effectiveness of treatments aimed at preventing or reversing obesity

We perform detailed assessments of body composition (fat mass, lean mass, bone density) and use indirect calorimetry to measure energy expenditure. These analyses help us understand how energy is used by the body and how different interventions influence the balance between fat storage and energy utilization, offering a comprehensive approach to studying weight management and metabolic health. 

We explore how body weight regulation interacts with other metabolic processes, such as glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism. These studies offer insights into the pathophysiology of obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders, providing a deeper understanding of the metabolic shifts that occur in response to compounds. 

In the context of metabolic disease, we also investigate the role of oxidative stress and inflammation. By evaluating the antioxidant capacity and immune responses in our in vivo tailored models. 

Our studies extend to the gut-brain axis, where we assess gut motility, neurotransmission, enteric nervous system activity, gut barrier function, and gastric emptying. These factors are critical for understanding how gastrointestinal function impacts overall metabolic health and brain signaling. In cases of obesity, we observe hypercontraction of the duodenum, which sends abnormal signals to the hypothalamus (increased nitric oxide production). This aberrant communication contributes to the development of insulin resistance. We can study, thanks to stereotactic techniques the release of nitric oxide in the hypothalamus, to explore the impact of compounds on insulin resistance and metabolic regulation. 

At Enterosys, our in vivo models allow for detailed exploration of the gut-liver axis and its impact. Using high-fat diet (HFD) induced mouse, we replicate the conditions that lead to hepatic dysfunctions, providing an effective tool for research. 

Our model enables researchers to study key aspects such as: 

• Antioxidant capacity 

• Hepatoprotective properties 

• Immunomodulation 

• Enzyme activity 

• Lipid metabolism and accumulation 

• Detoxification processes 

This integrated approach, grounded in our expertise in animal experimentation, ensures the delivery of high-quality data and reliable insights for molecule testing related to the gut-liver axis. 

Our models enable the study of this complex relationship by examining the impact of gut-derived factors on vascular tissues. This includes isolated aorta testing to evaluate:  

• vascular reactivity and function 

• antioxidant capacity: reflecting the gut’s influence on oxidative stress levels in the bloodstream 

• vascular permeability: which helps explain how changes in gut permeability can affect vascular integrity  

• Inflammation