Health status report: The Jackson Laboratory Diagnostics Laboratory routinely monitors and documents animal health status using statistically valid sampling procedures and standard protocols. (Note that these tests were not performed on the mice used in this study but rather on mice that were housed in the same facility as the ones used in this study.) Detailed health status reports for each animal room represented from this project are on file.

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): C57BR/cdJ, DBA/1J, NZW/LacJ, and MOLF/EiJ. RIIIS/J alternates weekly between 4% and 6% fat diets, and 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 4:30 AM to 6:30 PM) 10 hours off.

Temperature: 18 - 24 °C

Relative humidity: ~50%.

Acclimation period

Water: Adjusted with hydrochloric acid to pH 3.0; supplemented with vitamin K.

Feed: Sterilized (see protocol)

Housing: same as before shipping (above).

Bedding: same as before shipping (above).

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

Temperature: 24 - 25 °C

Relative humidity: 47-49%

Health status report: No pathogens detected in animal room. Mice appeared healthy during acclimation period.

Testing period

Dates of testing: Plasma chemistries 8-Mar-2001 to 21-Jan-2003.