CAT#0322 Title Pg 11/14/00 12:13 PM Page 1 A Volume in The Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series The Laboratory MOUSE Mark A. Suckow, D.V.M. Peggy Danneman, V.M.D. Cory Brayton, D.V.M. CRC Press Boca Raton London New York Washington, D.C. disclaimer Page 1 Thursday, November 16, 2000 5:11 PM Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Suckow, Mark A. The laboratory mouse / Mark A. Suckow, Peggy Danneman, Cory Brayton. p. cm.— (Laboratory animal pocket reference series) Includes bibliographical references and index (p. ). ISBN 0-8493-0322-2 (alk. paper) 1. Mice as laboratory animals. I. Danneman, Peggy. II. Brayton, Cory. III. Title. IV. Series. SF407.M5 S83 2000 636.088′5—dc21 00-05072 This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying. Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431, or visit our Web site at www.crcpress.com Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe. © 2001 by CRC Press LLC No claim to original U.S. Government works International Standard Book Number 0-8493-0322-2 Library of Congress Card Number 00-050724 Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Printed on acid-free paper 920038_CRC10_0322_FM.QXD 1/1/04 2:35 AM Page v preface The use of laboratory animals, including mice, continues to be an important part of biomedical research. Individuals performing such research are often charged with broad responsibilities, including ani- mal facility management, animal husbandry, regulatory compliance, and performance of technical procedures directly related to research projects. This handbook was written to provide a quick reference for investigators, technicians, and animal caretakers charged with the care or use of mice in a research setting. It should be particularly valuable to those at small institutions or facilities lacking a large, well-organized animal resource unit and to those individuals who need to conduct mouse research programs starting from scratch. This handbook is organized into six chapters: “Important Biologi- cal Features” (Chapter 1), “Husbandry” (Chapter 2), “Management” (Chapter 3), “Veterinary Care” (Chapter 4), “Experimental Methodol- ogy” (Chapter 5), and “Resources” (Chapter 6). The final chapter, “Resources,” provides the user with lists of possible sources and sup- pliers of additional information, animals, feed, sanitation supplies, cages, and research and veterinary supplies. The lists are not exhaustive and do not imply endorsement of listed vendors over sup- pliers not listed. Rather, these lists are meant as a starting point for users to develop their own lists of preferred vendors of such items. A final point to be considered is that all individuals performing procedures described in this handbook should be properly trained. The humane care and use of mice are improved by initial and con- tinuing education of personnel and will facilitate the overall success of programs using mice in research, teaching, or testing. The authors wish to specifically acknowledge the contributions of several individuals. Dr. Muriel T. Davisson and Dorcas J. Corrow provided valuable guidance in their review of several chapters. ©2001 CRC Press LLC 920038_CRC10_0322_FM.QXD 1/1/04 2:35 AM Page vi Colleen M. Vallee performed the manipulations illustrated in many of the photographs. For the skillfully drawn illustrations, the authors wish to thank Valerie A. Schroeder. This work has benefitted greatly from their efforts. ©2001 CRC Press LLC 920038_CRC10_0322_FM.QXD 1/1/04 2:35 AM Page vii the authors Mark A. Suckow, D.V.M., is Director of the Freimann Life Science Center at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN. Dr. Suckow earned the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 1987, and completed a postdoctoral residency program in laboratory animal medicine at the University of Michigan in 1990. He is a diplomate of the American College of Labo- ratory Animal Medicine. Dr. Suckow has published over 50 scientific papers and chapters in books. He was honored as the 1996 Young Investigator of the Year by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, and in 1998 with the Excellence in Laboratory Animal Research Award by the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Peggy J. Danneman, M.S., V.M.D., received her Doctorate in Veteri- nary Medicine (VMD) from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982, then worked for two years in a small animal veterinary practice in Wernersville, PA. In 1984, she entered a residency program in labo- ratory animal medicine at the Pennsylvania State University’s Her- shey Medical Center. Upon receiving her Master of Science from this program, she joined the faculty at Pennsylvania State University and subsequently was certified as a diplomate by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. At the present time, she is Chief of Veterinary Services at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, ME. Dr. Danneman has maintained an active research program related to pain, anesthesia, analgesia, and humane euthanasia. She has lec- tured and published extensively on these topics, as well as other aspects of laboratory animal science and bioethics. Cory Brayton, D.V.M., received her Doctorate in Veterinary Medi- cine from Cornell University in 1985, and is a diplomate of both the ©2001 CRC Press LLC 920038_CRC10_0322_FM.QXD 1/1/04 2:35 AM Page viii American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. She did postdoctoral training at the Animal Medical Center, Cornell University, and the Rockefeller University in New York City. She served as Facility Director at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City from 1992 to 1998, and became Head of the Comparative Pathology Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX in 1998. Dr. Brayton wishes to dedicate her contributions to this volume to the mice and their inves- tigators, to the husbandry and veterinary staffs that support humane and relevant research, and to the family and friends that tolerate her interest in great lesions and excellent research. ©2001 CRC Press LLC 920038_CRC10_0322_FM.QXD 1/1/04 2:35 AM Page ix contents 1 IMPORTANT BIOLOGICAL FEATURES Introduction Stocks and Strains Nomenclature Behavior Anatomic and Physiologic Features Normative Values Hematology 2 HUSBANDRY Housing Barriers and Containment Environment Sanitation and Pest Control Nutrition Water Breeding Identification and Record Keeping Transportation 3 MANAGEMENT Regulatory Agencies and Compliance Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Occupational Health and Zoonotic Diseases 4 VETERINARY CARE Basic Veterinary Supplies Physical Examination of the Mouse Common Diseases ©2001 CRC Press LLC 920038_CRC10_0322_FM.QXD 1/1/04 2:35 AM Page x Health Surveillance and Monitoring Testing of Biological Materials Rederivation Treatment of Disease Disease Prevention through Sanitation Anesthesia and Analgesia Euthanasia 5 EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY Restraint Sampling Methods Compound Administration Monoclonal Antibody Production (Mab) Necropsy 6 RESOURCES Organizations Publications Electronic Resources Mice Feed Equipment BIBLIOGRAPHY ©2001 CRC Press LLC 920038_CRC10_0322_ch01.QXD 1/1/04 2:50 AM Page 1 11 important biological features introduction Mice have been domesticated for centuries, even millennia, and have been used in scientific research since the 1600s. However, develop- ment of the laboratory mouse as a research model really began with genetic experiments in the early 1900s. Today, the laboratory mouse is recognized as the preeminent model for modern genetic research. Mice are also used in a variety of other types of research, including cancer, immunology, toxicology, metabolism, developmental biology, diabetes, obesity, aging, and cardiovascular research. They are prized for many qualities, including their small size, short generation time, and ease of breeding within the laboratory. The fact that they are genetically the best characterized of all mammals increases their value for all fields of study. Mice belong to the order Rodentia, and most of the mice used in research belong to the genus Mus. The Old World house mouse, Mus musculus—including the substrains M. musculus castaneus and M. musculus molossinus—is most commonly used. Other mice used in research include Mus spretus, Mus caroli, Mus pahari, Mus domesti- cus, and Peromyscus spp. ©2001 CRC Press LLC