Colony Expansions Completed for JAX® Mice Strains C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ
JAX® NOTES Issue 488, Winter 2002
In response to growing demand from the research community, The Jackson Laboratory has completed major colony expansions of JAX® Mice strains C57BL/6J (Stock Number 000664) and BALB/cJ (Stock Number 000651). These lines are now more readily available in a wider range of ages.
C57BL/6J is commonly used as a general purpose strain and as a background strain for developing congenic strains carrying spontaneous and induced mutations.
Characteristics include:
- Long lifespan
- Low tumor susceptibility
- High incidence of microphthalmia
- Resistance to audiogenic seizures
- Low bone density
- Hair loss associated with over-grooming
- A preference for alcohol and morphine
- Late-onset hearing loss
- Resistant to anthrax lethal factor
C57BL/6J mice are used in a wide variety of research areas including cardiovascular biology, developmental biology, diabetes and obesity, genetics, immunology, neurobiology, and sensorineural research. For more information on C57BL/6J mice, refer to the on-line data sheet for stock #000664.
BALB/cJ mice are also commonly used as a general purpose strain. They are particularly well known for the production of plasmacytomas on injection with mineral oil, the original basis for the production of monoclonal antibodies using hybridoma technology. Mammary tumor incidence is normally low, but infection with mammary tumor virus by fostering to MMTV+ C3H mice dramatically increases tumor number and lowers age of onset. These mice are very sensitive to radiation. To learn more about BALB/cJ mice, refer to the on-line data sheet for stock #000651.
C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice are well characterized both genetically and phenotypically. The Mouse Phenome Database contains numerous data sets involving C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice.
For information about ordering, pricing, or availability please call Customer Service at 800.422.6423 or 207.288.5845. Alternatively, you may send e-mail to orderquest@jax.org.
