Note: Mice were housed in a non-barrier facility during the acclimation and
testing periods. Three pathogens were detected during this time:
Pneumocystis, Pasturella, and Helicobacter. Pathogen-accelerated
atherosclerosis was observed in these studies.
These results are in
contrast to a similar study conducted in a pathogen-free facility
(Paigen2).
Vendor: Mice obtained from The Jackson Laboratory. Shipment age: Mice shipped 6-11 weeks of age (some mice of the following strains shipped at 4 and 5 weeks of age: B6.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J, BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J). Shipment dates: Mice shipped from 8/1999 to 3/2000. 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.) See JAX®Mice Quality Control Programs or the JAX®Mice Catalog for the list of agents monitored. Mice from production facility rooms represented in this study were negative for all agents tested, with the following exceptions (number positive mice/total tested indicated in parenthesis): B6.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J and BKS.HRS-Cpefat/J were housed with mice that tested positive for Klebsiella oxytoca (1/20). Detailed health status reports for each animal room represented from this project are on file. Environment before shipping:
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
Feed: 18% protein/4% fat diet (NIH 31) until they went on the high fat diet. Water: Adjusted with hydrochloric acid to pH 3.0; supplemented with vitamin K. Housing: Thoren Duplex cages (no more than 10 mice / 51.7 sq. in. floor space). Bedding: same as vendor (above). Photoperiod: 14 hours on (on 7 am to 9 pm) 10 hours off. Temperature: 24 - 25 °C Relative humidity: 47-49% Health status report: Pathogens present in non-barrier facility: Pneumocystis, Pasturella, Helicobacter. Mice appeared healthy during acclimation period. |
Testing Period
Environment: same as acclimation period except for diet (described in protocol). Health status report: Pathogens present in non-barrier facility: Pneumocystis, Pasturella, Helicobacter. Mice appeared healthy during testing period. |