Pink1 knockout rats (Park6)

• Approximately 30% of Pink1 knockout rats display a hindlimb-dragging phenotype at 8 months of age
• Background strain: Long Evans Hooded
• Homozygous knockout rats display total loss of protein via Western blot
• Pink1 knockout rats show increased hindlimb fatigue at 7 weeks of age
• Pink1 knockout rats show increased number of hindlimb foot slips at 5 and 9 weeks of age as assessed by tapered balance beam
• Preliminary reports have suggested Pink1 knockout rats show a ~50% reduction in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra at 8 months of age

Availability: Live colony
Zygosity genotype: Homozygous

Developed in collaboration with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, this model contains a deletion of the Pink1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1) gene, encoding for a serine/threonine protein kinase. Mutations in Pink1 are implicated in early-onset Parkinson's disease. Pink1 knockout rats show both motor impairments and dopaminergic cell loss, making this a useful model of Parkinson's disease.

This model is being developed in partner with the Michael J. Fox Foundation as part of our Parkinson's disease research suite. Pink1 protein kinase localizes to the mitochondria and is thought to protect cells from stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Mutations within this gene result in one form of autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's.

Origin:

The Pink1 (Park6) KO rat model was originally created at SAGE Labs, Inc. in St. Louis, MO and and distributed out of Inotiv’s Denver, PA facility.. The line continues to be maintained through the original SAGE Labs animal inventory acquired by Envigo, then Envigo was acquired by Inotiv in 2021.

Diet and Husbandry:

Inotiv’s iCare^TM Program focuses on creating industry awareness and continuing the highest-quality nutrition, bedding, and meaningful environmental enrichment for a wide range of laboratory animal species. Our iCare program supports the same standards of care we provide for our animal models while offering customers a convenient, single source for these essential products for their research facilities.

Diet:

The ideal lab animal diet is the 2018 Teklad Global 18% Protein Rodent Diet (Irradiated or Autoclavable).

Bedding:

The preferred bedding product is Teklad Corncob Bedding.

Enrichment:

The environmental enrichment products that are provided in a rotation include Teklad Diamond Twists, as well as Sizzle-Nest, Shelters, Cocoons, and Paper Wool from our welfareplus+^® line of enrichment products.

Model Support Services:
Inotiv offers related model support services to deliver research-ready models to your facility:

• Surgical Services
• Preconditioning Services
• Aging Services
• Contract Breeding Services
• Biospecimen Services

Health Monitoring Report Update
Inotiv is standardizing global health monitoring to deliver consistent, rigorous surveillance. Updated reports featuring our revised testing frequencies and agents will begin with the September 2026 cycle with reports becoming available between mid-September and early October.

Historical data for the previous 18 months will remain available under the Technical Resources tab. For details on monitored agents and testing frequencies, visit our Health Monitoring Reports page.  Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

• United States - Building 410 Denver, PA

Available regions:

For pricing information, please contact us using the phone number above.

• iCare Program: Continuity of Care — US
• Model information sheet

Archived Health Monitoring Reports

• United States - Building 410 Denver, PA