Vendors: 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 or the JAX®Mice Catalog for the list of agents monitored.

Environment before shipping:

Feed: Most strains maintained on a 6% fat diet (Purina 5K52) except the following strains maintained on a 4% fat diet (Purina 5K54): DBA/1J, NZW/LacJ, and MOLF/EiJ. WSB/EiJ alternates weekly between 4% and 11% (Purina 5K20) fat formulations.

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 period

Duration: 7-14 days (barrier research facility room G3A at The Jackson Laboratory).

Acclimation & Testing periods

Feed: Sterilized (see protocol).

Housing: same as before shipping (above).

Bedding: same as before shipping (above).

Photoperiod: 12 hours on (6am to 6pm), 12 hours off.

Temperature: 24 - 25 °C

Relative humidity: 47-49%

Health status report: Mice appeared healthy during acclimation period.

Dates of Testing:

Plasma Chemistry   8-Mar-2001 to 21-Jan-2003
Body Weights   14-Jun-2001 to 17-Nov-2003
Densitometry   14-Jun-2001 to 17-Nov-2003
ELISAs   26-Apr-2002 to 20-Aug-2003