Breeding and husbandry
The manager of our NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wj/SzJ (stock # 005557) colony indicates that this strain is a "great" breeder on a great/good/fair/poor scale. The mice are bred as pairs (one female with one male). Females usually deliver 7-8 litters during the 6 month breeding rotation with an average litter size of 8 pups. Rarely do breeding pairs lose their litters. In our experience, pairs are more productive if first matings are delayed until the mice are 5-6 weeks old, and first litters typically are born 5-6 weeks after pairing. Our colony manager also reports that many breeder mice in our colony (perhaps as high as 25%) die prior to their normal retirement age at ~7 months of age. Mice older than 7 months may continue to breed, sometimes up to 12 months, however, the breeding performance of the mice will decrease significantly. Due to the severe immunodeficiency of the mice, the health status of the housing environment can significantly affect the maximum life span of the mice. According to the donating investigator, Dr. Shultz, some of the mice (~10%) can live up to 16 months of age when housed in a maximum barrier mouse room. Most of the mice should survive past 9-10 months housed under specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. Dr. Shultz also indicated that a change of environment and/or food can have pronounced effects on productivity. Laboratory mice demonstrate burrowing and nesting behavior. Therefore, Dr. Shultz recommends enriching the environment with autoclaved nestlets, Kimwipes (low lint paper towels) or regular white paper towels.
Mice should be handled with smooth-tipped forceps that have been soaked in iodine or other disinfectant solution, and the handler should dip gloved hands into disinfectant between touching the outside of a cage and handling the mice.