Scientific name : Rattus norvegicus
Strain : Wistar and Sprague Dawley
Source : Denmark
Coat color : Albino
Adult body weight :: Male 250-300 grams,Female 180-220 grams
Average life span :: 2-3 years
Age at mating :: Male 8-10 weeks, Female 8-10 weeks
Estrous cycle :: 4-5 days
Duration of estrus :: 9-20 hours
Gestation period :: 19-22 days
Weaning age :: 19-22 days
Litter size :: 9-11 pups
Normal birth weight :: 5-6 grams
Weaning weight :: 45-65 grams
Food consumption :: 15-30 grams /animal/day (Adult)
Water consumption :: 20-45 ml/animal/day (Adult)
Eyes open :: 10-14 days
Ears open :: 12-14 days
Hair coat :: 8-9 days
Nipples :: 10, 3 Pairs on the thorax, 2 Pairs on the abdomen.
Breeding Systems
Maximum avoidance of inbreeding mating system is applied in Mlac:WR and Mlac:SD rats strains for maintenance in foundation stock and random mating system is used for production in production stock.
Environment
The rats are housed in controlled environment. The ventilation, temperature and humidity are controlled by HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air conditioning) system. They are controlled at :
– Temperature range is controlled at about 22 ± 2 ํC
– Relative humidity range at about 55 + 10%
– Air changes per hour at 15-20 ACH
– Light: dark cycle is adjusted at 12:12 hours
– The rat are sensitive to noise so the noise level should be maintained less than 85 db.
Feed and water
The rats are fed on commercial diet (No. CP 082) produced by Perfect companion group co. Ltd. The manufacturer which milled the feed according to our requested specifications. Food is provided ad libitum in stainless steel wire- bar lid feeders. The chlorinated RO Water is provided as drinking water (chlorine concentration 5-6 ppm) which is free from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Water provided to animals by bottles with sipper tubes.
Bedding
Dried Water Hyacine and Corn Cob used for mice as bedding material. The same bedding is used in shipping containers. Dried bedding is packed in 3 layers brown paper bags and sterilized by autoclave at 135 ๐C for 7 minutes before used.
| Dimensions of Enclosure (W×L×H)(centimeter) | Maximum Number Animals/Enclosure | Types of Enclosure & Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12 × 11 × 7.5 | 3 animals(pregnant 1wk) /cage | Stainless steel cages with Stainless steel wire-bar lid |
| 10 x 7 x 10 | 1 animals(pregnant 2-3 wks) /cage | Stainless steel cages with Stainless steel wire-bar lid |
| 10.5 x 13.5 x 6.5 | 1 Female + litter /cage | Stainless steel cages with Stainless steel wire-bar lid |
| 10 x 16 x 7 | 1 Female + litter /cage | Stainless steel cages with Stainless steel wire-bar lid |
| 14 x 29 x 6 | 10 animals /cage | Stainless steel cages with Stainless steel wire-bar lid |
Click here for more information of “Inbred Strain / Outbred Stock”
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