Scientific name : Mus Musculus
Strain : BALB/cMlac
Source : Central Institute of Experimental Animal; CIEA Japan (1999)
Coat color : Albino
Adult body weight :: Male 20-40 grams, Female 20-35 grams.
Average life span :: 2-3years.
Age at mating :: Male 7-8 week. (25-30 grams) , Female 6-8 week. (20-25 grams)
Estrous cycle :: 4-5 days
Duration of estrus :: 6 – 11 hours
Reproductive time :: 8-12 months.
Gestation period :: 19-22 day
Weaning age :: 18-22 day (10-12 grams)
Litter size :: 1-8 pups (average 4)
Normal birth weight :: 1-2 grams.
Post partum estrus :: 70%
Food consumption :: 3-6 grams /animal/day (Adult)
Water consumption :: 8-10 ml/animal/day (Adult)
Breeding Systems
Two mating systems are applied in breeding BALB/cMlac mouse inbred strain. Brother-sister full-sip mating system is used to maintain the strain in foundation stock and traffic light system is used breeding for production.
Foundation Stock
One male and one female of brother-sister are paired permanently throughout their breeding life span. This system allows to record complete breeding data.
Production Stock
The harem system or polygamous mating system is used for production animals. One male is housed with 2-4 females and pregnant females are removed to separate cages before parturition. This method increased production of animals.
Environment
The mouse is housed in controlled environment. The ventilation, temperature and humidity are controlled by HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air conditioning) system.
– Temperature ranged at about 24 ± 2 ํC
– Relative humidity range of about 55 + 10%
– Air changes per hour 10-15 ACH
– Light: dark cycle 12:12 hours
– Mouse is sensitive to noise so the noise level should be maintained at < 85 db.
Feed and water
Mouse is fed on the commercial diet (No. CP 082) product of Perfect companion group co. Ltd., the animal feed manufacturer which milled according to our requested specifications. Food is provided in stainless steel wire- bar lid feeders ad libitum. The RO Water is used for the drinking water which is chlorinated at a concentration of 10-12 ppm to make it free from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The drinking water is provided in bottles with sipper tubes.
Bedding
Hard wood chips (or shaving) is used for mouse as bedding material. The same bedding is used in shipping containers. Dried bedding is packed in brown paper bags and sterilized by autoclave at 135 C for 7 minutes before used.
Cages used for BALB/c mice
Dimensions of Enclosure (W×L×H)(centimeter) |
Maximum Number Animals/ Enclosure |
Types of Enclosure & Description |
|---|---|---|
| 21.3 × 36.2 × 18.5 | 6 animals/cage (or) 1 animal (lactating female)/cage | Polysulfonate cages with stainless steel wire-bar lid |
| 19 × 30× 13 | 6 animals/cage (or) 1 animal (lactating female) / cage | Polycarbonate cages with stainless wire-bar lid |
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