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Rules for designating inbred strains of mice are presented, along with a list of strains with their origins and characteristics, a table of biochemical polymorphisms, and standard subline designations.
In order to investigate the effects of social isolation on aggressive behavior and GABA levels in different brain areas, inbred mice of the C57 Bl/6 and the DBA/2 strains were housed individually over a period of 8 weeks. Social isolation induced a clear increase of aggressive responses only in the DBA/2 strain and a decrease of GABA levels in septum, striatum, olfactory bulb and posterior colliculus in both the C57Bl/6 and in the DBA/2 strains. An increase of neurotransmitter concentration was observed in amygdala of DBA mice. DBA mice when compared to C57 mice showed significantly lower levels of GABA in olfactory bulb and striatum. These results are discussed in light of several previous studies which have pointed out a correlation between a deficiency of GABA mediated inhibition in some brain areas and different kinds of aggressive behavior as well as the possibility of a blockade of aggressive behavior by potentiation of GABAergic mediated inhibition. A possible suggestion emerging from our results is that the aggressive responses exhibited by isolated DBA mice but not by isolated C57 mice may be related to lower levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter in the olfactory bulb and striatum.
Mice from the inbred strains C57BL/6 and DBA/2 are characterized by striking differences in their behavioral response to addictive drugs. We used Fos expression as a tool to reveal strain differences in the postsynaptic effects of amphetamine (AMPH; 2.5 mg/kg) within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) (core and shell) and the dorsal caudate (dorsomedial and dorsolateral). AMPH stimulated Fos expression in all striatal regions of mice from both strains. However, while C57BL/6 showed a higher Fos response than DBA/2 mice in both NAc shell and core, the opposite was true for the dorsolateral caudate. The effects of AMPH were prevented by D1 blockade in all striatal regions of both strains and mimicked by the D1 agonist, SKF82958 (0.1 mg/kg), in both regions of the caudate and in the NAc shell, but not in the core. Our results suggest that the functional heterogeneity of the striatal complex is under genetic control and that this control may implicate DA transmission and corticostriatal interactions.
Bone marrow stroma contains a unique cell population, referred to as marrow stromal cells (MSCs), capable of differentiating along multiple mesenchymal cell lineages. A standard liquid culture system has been developed to isolate MSCs from whole marrow by their adherence to plastic wherein the cells grow as clonal populations derived from a single precursor termed the colony-forming-unit fibroblast (CFU-F). Using this liquid culture system, we demonstrate that the relative abundance of MSCs in the bone marrow of five commonly used inbred strains of mice varies as much as 10-fold, and that the cells also exhibit markedly disparate levels of alkaline phosphatase expression, an early marker of osteoblast differentiation. For each strain examined, the method of isolating MSCs by plastic adherence yields a heterogeneous cell population. These plastic adherent cells also exhibit widely varying growth kinetics between the different strains. Importantly, of three inbred strains commonly used to prepare transgenic mice that we examined, only cells derived from FVB/N marrow readily expand in culture. Further analysis of cultures derived from FVB/N marrow showed that most plastic adherent cells express CD11b and CD45, epitopes of lymphohematopoietic cells. The later consists of both pre-B-cell progenitors, granulocytic and monocytic precursors, and macrophages. However, a subpopulation of the MSCs appear to represent bona fide mesenchymal progenitors, as cells can be induced to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes after exposure to dexamethasone and into myoblasts after exposure to amphotericin B. Our results point to significant strain differences in the properties of MSCs and indicate that standard methods cannot be applied to murine bone marrow to isolate relatively pure populations of MSCs.
Among inbred mice, genetic factors mediate differences in sensitivity to the convulsant properties of cocaine; however, the gene(s) underlying cocaine's effects have not been identified. To help elucidate the gene(s) responsible for cocaine seizure susceptibility, we used recombinant inbred-quantitative trait loci (RI-QTL) analyses to identify chromosomal loci associated with cocaine-induced seizures. RI-QTL analyses seek to identify associations between a quantitative measure of a particular phenotype and one or more previously mapped marker genes across a panel of RI strains. This report describes an RI-QTL analysis of cocaine seizure susceptibility among 26 BXD RI strains. These strains showed a skewed, bimodal range of seizure susceptibility which could be the result of one or more modifying genes acting in concert with a major gene to influence cocaine sensitivity. Correlating the percent seizures displayed by each strain following 60 mg/kg cocaine with chromosomal marker data for these strains revealed a number of significant correlations clustered in two regions on chromosomes 12 and 6. This is the first identification of putative chromosomal loci associated with a cocaine-related phenotype and should facilitate identification of the gene(s) underlying cocaine toxicity and other cocaine-related phenotypes.
Previously, we reported regional variations in small intestinal IELs of mice. In this study, we examined the regional variations of IELs in outbred laboratory mice (ddY: Mus musculus domesticus) and the inbred strain of mice established from Japanese fancy mice (JF1: Mus musculus molossinus). IELs were isolated from the proximal, middle and distal parts of the small intestine and analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentages of gammadelta T cells and alphabeta T cell subset of extrathymic origin were higher in the proximal part while the percentages of alphabeta T cell subset(s) of thymic origin were higher in the distal part in both ddY and JF1 mice. Such trends in regional variations of IELs were almost the same as those found in the inbred strains of laboratory mice in our previous reports. This strongly suggests that these regional variations of IELs may be common phenomena in Mus musculus species.
The hemoglobin from mice of six inbred strains is of the single-spot electrophoretic type, and that from 14 inbred strains is of the diffuse type. No selective advantage is apparent for either type. The distribution among strains shows some relation to the history of the development of the strains.
SMXA recombinant inbred (RI) strains were derived from the F2 generation of a cross between two progenitor inbred strains, A/J and SM/J, which differ considerably with respect to many characters. In order to determine the morphometric profiles of the mandible of SMXA RI strains and to identify these strains, principal component and discriminant analyses (mandible analysis) were carried out using 11 mandible measurements. Principal component analysis revealed that the mandibles of each strain have their own characteristic size and shape. The RI strains, however, were roughly divided into 15 groups based on the morphometric profile of their mandibles. Discriminant analysis showed the probability of erroneous discrimination to be 6.49% (20/308) for the males and 8.06% (27/335) for the females. In both sexes, most of the erroneous discrimination (13 in the male, 17 in the female) occurred between RI strains having comparatively similar morphometric profiles. This suggested that all of the SMXA RI strains examined could be regarded as genetically homogeneous within each strain.
Anatomical and functional studies support segregation of the hippocampus into ventral and dorsal components along its septotemporal axis. However, it is unknown whether the development of these two components of the hippocampus is influenced by common or separate genetic factors. In this study, we used recombinant inbred strains of mice to determine whether the same or different quantitative trait loci (QTL) influence ventral and dorsal hippocampal volume. Using two sets of strains of recombinant inbred mice (BXD and AXB/BXA), we identified separate QTLs for ventral and dorsal hippocampal volume. In BXD mice, suggestive QTLs for ventral hippocampus were identified on chromosomes 2, 8 and 13, and a significant QTL for dorsal hippocampal volume was identified on chromosome 15. There was also a suggestive QTL for dorsal hippocampal volume on chromosome 13. In AXB/BXA mice, there were no significant or suggestive QTLs for ventral hippocampal volume, but a significant QTL for dorsal hippocampus was identified on chromosome 5. These findings suggest that the development of the ventral and dorsal components of the hippocampus is influenced by separate genetic loci.
Although it is now becoming more evident that the strain of mouse used to generate genetically modified models for the study of endocrine disorders contributes to the ensuing phenotype, metabolic characterization of these common strains used to produce genetically altered mice has been limited. The aim of this study therefore was to measure various metabolic parameters in C57BL/6, DBA/2, and 129T2 mice fed a control or a high-fat diet. Mice were fed either a control (7 g/100 g) or a high-fat (60 g/100 g) diet for 6 wk. During wk 6, spontaneous and voluntary physical activity and resting energy expenditure were determined. DBA/2 mice that consumed the control diet gained more weight and had larger regional fat pad depots than either C57BL/6 or 129T2 mice (P < 0.05). Spontaneous and voluntary activity was lower in 129T2 mice compared with DBA/2 or C57BL/6 mice (P < 0.05). Resting energy expenditure (corrected for body weight) was greater in C57BL/6 mice than in DBA/2 or 129T2 mice (P < 0.05), whereas glucose and fat oxidation did not differ among the 3 strains of mice. Plasma glucose concentrations in food-deprived mice were higher and insulin concentrations lower in 129T2 compared with C57BL/6 mice (P < 0.05), but were not affected by the high-fat diet in any of the 3 strains tested. This study shows that these 3 commonly used inbred strains of mice have different inherent metabolic characteristics. It further highlights that the background strain used to produce genetically modified mice is critical to the resultant phenotype.
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Murine AIDS (MAIDS) is readily induced by the Duplan strain of defective murine leukemia virus in susceptible C57BL/6 mice. To identify mouse strains resistant to MAIDS, and to understand the genetic factors controlling susceptibility to the disease, we screened more than 20 inbred strains of mice for their susceptibility to MAIDS. For this study, mice of the Fv-1n/n, Fv-1b/b, or Fv-1n/b genotype were inoculated with stocks of defective MAIDS virus pseudotyped with N-tropic, B-tropic, or NB-tropic helper murine leukemia virus, respectively. Strains could be classified as susceptible, resistant, or moderately resistant. None of the individual H-2 haplotypes examined appears to explain resistance to MAIDS by itself. However, a very good correlation between the susceptibility or resistance phenotype and the presence or absence of defective proviral DNA and RNA in the spleen of these animals was found. Since the presence of defective proviral DNA and RNA reflects the oligoclonal proliferation of the cells infected by the defective MAIDS virus, our results strongly suggest that this target cell expansion is genetically controlled and is necessary and perhaps even sufficient for the development of the disease.
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The immunomodulatory alkaloid swainsonine (8alphabeta-indolizidine-1alpha,2alpha,8beta-triol) has potential for overcoming the bone marrow suppressive effects of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation. The effect of swainsonine on bone marrow cellularity was evaluated in four different strains (C57BL/6; C3H-HEN; Balb/C and DBA-2 mice) of inbred mice subjected to multiple doses of the alkaloid. Swainsonine treatment stimulated bone marrow cell proliferation in all strains of mice. Examination of the peripheral blood did not reveal any increase in total leukocyte count. In vitro assessment of total colony-forming unit (CFU) capacity of bone marrow cells showed a two- to eight-fold increase in swainsonine treated mice of different strains compared to their corresponding controls given sham injections of physiological saline. Swainsonine induced increase in CFU capacity of bone marrow cells should find clinical application in cancer treatment with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation.
A hybridological analysis of a mode of inheritance of two characters: biochemical (brain S-100 protein level) and behavioral (rate of active avoidance conditioned reflex formation in a shuttle box), in mice of inbred strains DBA/2J and AKR/J characterized by respectively high and low levels of these characters. The high concentration of water soluble S-100 protein in whole brain is a recessive character. The inheritance of total S-100 protein in whole brain and of the level of its water soluble fraction in brain cortex and hippocampus is complex. In all hybrids of a given couple of parents from different strains, dominance and over-dominance of a low rate of the formation of the conditioned reflex takes place. No sex differences in the avoidance level were found. Neurospecific S-100 protein content correlates positively with the rate of active avoidance conditioned reflex formation.
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Selected inbred strains of mice were examined for susceptibility to peritoneal infections with Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Marked differences in susceptibility and resistance among mouse strains were not controlled by loci within the mouse major histocompatibility (H-2) complex, but resistance in BALB/c mice was influenced by a dominant gene(s) outside the H-2 complex. The lethality of peritoneal infections in hypothymic nude mice suggested that resistance to encephalitozoonosis is dependent on thymus-derived lymphocytes. Peritoneal infection with E. cuniculi was associated with slightly enhanced proliferative spleen cell responses to mitogens in BALB/c mice and significantly depressed responses in C57Bl/6 mice. Infection in BALB/c mice was accompanied by normal antibody responses to sheep erythrocyte immunogens, but C57Bl/6 mice had depressed antibody responses. The results indicate that the immune system plays a major role in determining the course of peritoneal infections with E. cuniculi and that encephalitozoonosis can modulate the host's immune system.
Female mice of 16 inbred mouse strains were fed an atherogenic diet for 14 weeks and were then evaluated for atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta. Strains C57BL/6, C57BR/cd, C57L, and SM were very susceptible to atherosclerosis, with lesion area/aortic cross-sections in the range of 4500 to 8000 microns 2. Strains C58 and SWR were intermediate in susceptibility, with lesion area/sections in the range of 1670 to 1690 microns 2. Strains 129, AKR, DBA/2, and BALB/c had only small lesions in the range of 20 to 350 microns 2/section; strains C3H, NZB, CBA, HRS, SJL, and A had no lesions after 14 weeks. Lesion formation in five strains was compared at several time points. Strain C57BL/6 mice developed lesions by 7 weeks, and these continued to grow until all mice had large atheromatous plaques in the aorta and coronary arteries. Strains AKR and DBA/2 also had fatty streak lesions as early as 7 or 8 weeks, but these lesions had not progressed in size by 14 weeks. Strains BALB/c and C3H, which were both resistant to lesion formation at 14 weeks, diverged from each other as time progressed. By 1 year, BALB/c mice had large lesions, but C3H mice had none. Most of the inbred strains chosen for evaluation are the progenitors of recombinant inbred sets of strains, a genetic tool that greatly facilitates the analysis of strain differences. This survey indicates seven additional recombinant inbred sets of strains whose progenitors differ in atherosclerosis susceptibility: BXD, AKXL, SWXJ, NX8, 129XB, NXSM, and B6NXAKRN. An analysis of these recombinant inbred strains may reveal additional mouse genes affecting atherosclerosis susceptibility.