Lab Anim Res.  2017 Jun;33(2):68-75. 10.5625/lar.2017.33.2.68.

Reproductive performance of genetically engineered mice housed in different housing systems

• Yadav S
• Yadav I
• Pratap K
• Tiwari PK
• Singh VP

• KMID: 2407418
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2017.33.2.68

Abstract

The genetically engineered mice require special husbandry care and are mainly housed in Individually Ventilated Cage (IVC) systems and Static Micro Isolator Cages (SMIC) to minimize the risk for spreading undesirable microorganisms. However, the static micro isolation cage housing like SMIC are being replaced with IVC systems in many facilities due to a number of benefits like a higher density housing in limited space, better protection from biohazards and allergens and decreased work load due to decreased frequency of cage changing required in this system. The purpose of this study was to examine the reproductive performance of genetically engineered mice housed in individually ventilated cages (IVC) and Static Micro Isolator Cages (SMIC). When the B6C3-Tg (APPswe, PSEN1dE9) 85Dbo/Mmjax transgenic mice were housed in these two housing systems, the number of litters per dam, number of pups born per dam and number of pups weaned per dam were found to be slightly higher in the IVC as compared to the SMIC but the difference was not significant (P<0.05). In case of Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP-43) knockout mice, the number of litters born per dam and the number of pups born per dam were marginally higher in the IVC as compared to those housed in SMIC but the difference was not significant (P<0.05). Only the number of pups weaned per dam were found to be significantly higher as compared to those housed in the SMIC system at P<0.05.

Keyword

Reproductive Performance; Genetically Engineered Mice; Housing System

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Animals
GAP-43 Protein
Hazardous Substances
Housing*
Mice*
Mice, Knockout
Mice, Transgenic
Allergens
GAP-43 Protein
Hazardous Substances

Figure

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  Figure 1 No. of litter per dam: Figure represents the no of litter per dam for mice strains B6C3-Tg (APPswe,PSEN1dE9) 85Dbo/Mmjax (Left Panel) and GAP 43 KO mice (Right Panel) under two different cage types IVC and SMIC.

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  Figure 2 No. of pups born per dam: Figure represents the no of pups born per dam for mice strains B6C3-Tg (APPswe, PSEN1dE9) 85Dbo/Mmjax (Left Panel) and GAP 43 KO mice (Right Panel) under two different cage types IVC and SMIC.

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  Figure 3 No. of pups weaned per dam: Figure represents the no of pups weaned per dam for mice strains B6C3-Tg (APPswe, PSEN1dE9) 85Dbo/Mmjax (Left Panel) and GAP 43 KO mice (Right Panel) under two different cage types IVC and SMIC.

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  Figure 4 Pup Survival till Weaning (%) in B6C3-Tg (APPswe, PSEN1dE9) 85Dbo/Mmjax and GAP 43 KO mice housed in SMIC and IVC. (Calculated as Total Number of Pups Survived till Weaned/Total Number of Pups Born ×100)

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