Mice
The mouse is the most common mammal among laboratory animals, and the use of mice has increased since the introduction of transgenic methods.
The technology enables researchers to influence a specific gene and control how it changes other functions, cells, or organ systems in the body. Hence, mice can be used as models for many different diseases and for basic research on the importance of different genes. The entire mouse genome is mapped.
Understanding a particular process often requires a larger number of animals. When a gene has been modified in a mouse it is necessary to breed more animals with that particular genetic modification.
An advantage of using mice is that they can quickly become pregnant again after giving birth to a litter. Already at 3 to 4 weeks after delivery it is possible for mice to deliver new offspring. But it is common to allow more time between generations to give the female a break between litters. A longer interval often leads to larger litters.
The short generation time makes it less expensive to use mice than many other laboratory animals. Since mice are small, the space and feeding costs are lower than for other animals.
Mice have long been important laboratory animals in cancer research. In part, this is because science can produced mice that have no immune defence. When such mice are exposed to foreign substances, e.g. cancer cells, their body does not reject them. Hence, researchers can study a tumour´s sensitivity to different drugs.
Understanding a particular process often requires a larger number of animals. When a gene has been modified in a mouse it is necessary to breed more animals with that particular genetic modification.
Short generation time an advantage
An advantage of using mice is that they can quickly become pregnant again after giving birth to a litter. Already at 3 to 4 weeks after delivery it is possible for mice to deliver new offspring. But it is common to allow more time between generations to give the female a break between litters. A longer interval often leads to larger litters.
The short generation time makes it less expensive to use mice than many other laboratory animals. Since mice are small, the space and feeding costs are lower than for other animals.
Mice have long been important laboratory animals in cancer research. In part, this is because science can produced mice that have no immune defence. When such mice are exposed to foreign substances, e.g. cancer cells, their body does not reject them. Hence, researchers can study a tumour´s sensitivity to different drugs.
Text: Karin Nordin
References
- John Bräutigam, veterinarian, Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Helena Elofsson, Fil. Dr. Zoology, Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Anne Halldén Waldemarson, University veterinarian at Karolinska Institutet
- Torgny Jeneskog, University veterinarian at Umeå university
- Karl-Gustav Jacobsson, University veterinarian at Uppsala university
Responsible for content: Mats Ulfendahl, Secretary General of Medicine and health, Swedish Research Council.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
