Vendor: Mice obtained from The Jackson Laboratory.

Health status report: The Jackson Laboratory Diagnostics Laboratory routinely monitors and documents animal health status using statistically valid sampling procedures and standard protocols. Detailed health status reports for each animal room represented from this project are on file and available on request .

See JAX®Mice Quality Control Programs

Environment before shipping:

Feed: Mice maintained on a 6% fat diet ( Purina 5K52 ).

Water: Adjusted with hydrochloric acid to pH 2.8-3.1 and supplemented with menadione sodium bisulfite (final concentration 0.4 mg/mL) to compensate for potential decrease in vitamin K activity upon autoclaving; water supplied in pinhole type bottles (Thoren Caging Systems, Inc. Hazelton, PA).

Housing: Thoren cages; Thoren Maxi Miser #3 cages used for some strains as part of a PIV (pressurized individually ventilated) system.

Bedding: Steam autoclaved white pine shavings.

Photoperiod: 14 hours on (generally covering the hours of 0430 h to 1830 h) 10 hours off.

Temperature: 18 - 24°C

Relative humidity: ~50%.

Acclimation and testing periods

Duration: 7-14 days (research facility at Boston University); mice were given 1% NaCl in drinking water and were trained on the equipment prior to testing.