What are laboratory mice? - briefly
Laboratory mice are genetically defined strains of Mus musculus bred for use in biomedical research to model diseases, genetics, and drug responses. They are kept under standardized conditions to provide uniform genetics and reproducible experimental outcomes.
What are laboratory mice? - in detail
Laboratory mice are domesticated rodents specifically bred for scientific investigation. They belong primarily to the species Mus musculus and are maintained under controlled conditions to ensure genetic uniformity, health status, and reproducibility of experimental outcomes.
Genetic background defines the utility of each strain. Commonly used lines include:
- Inbred strains (e.g., C57BL/6, BALB/c) that are homozygous at virtually all loci, providing a consistent genetic platform.
- Outbred stocks (e.g., CD-1) that retain heterozygosity, useful for studies requiring genetic diversity.
- Transgenic and knockout models engineered to express, suppress, or replace specific genes, enabling functional analysis of disease mechanisms.
Housing protocols standardize temperature (20‑24 °C), humidity (30‑70 %), light cycles (12 h light/12 h dark), and cage enrichment. Food and water are provided ad libitum, with sterilized formulations to prevent microbial contamination. Routine health monitoring screens for pathogens such as Mycoplasma spp., Sendai virus, and Pasteurella spp., safeguarding experimental integrity.
Applications span multiple disciplines:
- Pharmacology – assessment of drug efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics.
- Immunology – modeling immune responses, vaccine development, and autoimmune disorders.
- Neuroscience – investigation of behavior, cognition, and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Genetics – exploration of gene function, epigenetic regulation, and genome editing technologies.
- Oncology – creation of tumor models for studying cancer progression and therapeutic interventions.
Ethical oversight is mandated by institutional animal care committees, which enforce the three Rs: replacement, reduction, and refinement. Replacement encourages alternative methods when feasible; reduction limits the number of animals while preserving statistical power; refinement optimizes procedures to minimize pain and distress.
Data generated from these rodents contribute to the translational pipeline, linking molecular insights to clinical applications. Consistency in strain selection, husbandry, and experimental design remains essential for generating reliable, reproducible results.