Reference SummaryBrayton CF, Vet Pathol 2012 Jan;49(1):85-105

Title

 Pathobiology of aging mice and GEM: background strains and experimental design.

Authors

 Brayton CF; Treuting PM; Ward JM

Journal

 Vet Pathol

Volume

 49

Issue

 1

Year

 2012

Pages

 85-105

Abstract

 The use of induced and spontaneous mutant mice and genetically engineered mice (and combinations thereof) to study cancers and other aging phenotypes to advance improved functional human life spans will involve studies of aging mice. Genetic background contributes to pathology phenotypes and to causes of death as well as to longevity. Increased recognition of expected phenotypes, experimental variables that influence phenotypes and research outcomes, and experimental design options and rationales can maximize the utility of genetically engineered mice (GEM) models to translational research on aging. This review aims to provide resources to enhance the design and practice of chronic and longevity studies involving GEM. C57BL6, 129, and FVB/N strains are emphasized because of their widespread use in the generation of knockout, transgenic, and conditional mutant GEM. Resources are included also for pathology of other inbred strain families, including A, AKR, BALB/c, C3H, C57L, C58, CBA, DBA, GR, NOD.scid, SAMP, and SJL/J, and non-inbred mice, including 4WC, AB6F1, Ames dwarf, B6, 129, B6C3F1, BALB/c,129, Het3, nude, SENCAR, and several Swiss stocks. Experimental strategies for long-term cross-sectional and longitudinal studies to assess causes of or contributors to death, disease burden, spectrum of pathology phenotypes, longevity, and functional healthy life spans (health spans) are compared and discussed.

Links

 J:235854 – MGI References
22215684 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Strain Notes

Strain Note
[(AKR/J x DBA/2J)F1] x [(C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F1] These are "4-way cross (4WC) mice, which are (F2) offspring of (AKR/J x DBA/2J)F1 females and (C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F1 males".
(BALB/cByJ x C57BL/6J)F1 x (C3H/HeJ x DBA/2J)F1 "HET3 mice used in this program are (F2) offspring of CByB6F1/J and C3D2F1/J (combining BALB/cBy, C57BL/6, C3H, and DBA/2) strains."
C57BL/6JfC3Hf/Nctr J:235854 lists J:27148 as the reference for these mice but then describes them as "B6C3F1" when the mice in the given reference were C57BL/6J mice fostered on C3Hf/Nctr mice.
CFW Outbred mice from Charles River.

Models
Strain Model Name Treatment Agent(s) Organ Affected Frequency Model Details
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Adrenal gland - Cortex lesion Adrenal gland - Cortex

observed
BALB/cAnNBdf Adrenal gland - Cortex tumor Adrenal gland - Cortex

observed
FVB/NTac Adrenal gland - Medulla pheochromocytoma Adrenal gland - Medulla

observed
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Adrenal gland - Subcapsular cell hyperplasia - spindle cell Adrenal gland - Subcapsular cell

observed
(BALB/cByJ x C57BL/6J)F1 x (C3H/HeJ x DBA/2J)F1 Adrenal gland hyperplasia Adrenal gland

observed
NMRI Adrenal gland tumor Adrenal gland

observed
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Blood tumor Blood

observed
C57BL/6JfC3Hf/Nctr Blood tumor Blood

observed
[(AKR/J x DBA/2J)F1] x [(C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F1] Blood tumor Blood

43 - 55
B6;129 Blood tumor Blood

observed
B6;129 Blood vessel hemangioma Blood vessel

observed
C;129P2 Blood vessel hemangioma Blood vessel

observed
C57BL/6 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma Blood vessel

observed
B6;129 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma Blood vessel

observed
(BALB/cByJ x C57BL/6J)F1 x (C3H/HeJ x DBA/2J)F1 Blood vessel hemangiosarcoma Blood vessel

observed
C57BL/6JNia Blood vessel neoplasm Blood vessel

0 - 8
C57BL/6J Blood vessel neoplasm Blood vessel

2 - 4
B6;129S4 Blood vessel neoplasm Blood vessel

0 - 10
B6;129 Blood vessel neoplasm Blood vessel

9
129S4/SvJae Blood vessel neoplasm Blood vessel

0 - 12.9
C57BL/6JNia Bone neoplasm Bone

0 - 2
C57BL/6J Bone neoplasm Bone

0 - 2
B6;129S4 Bone neoplasm Bone

0
129S4/SvJae Bone neoplasm Bone

0
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Eye - Harderian gland adenoma Eye - Harderian gland

observed
FVB/NTac Eye - Harderian gland adenoma - acidophilic Eye - Harderian gland

observed
C57BL/6JNia Eye - Harderian gland neoplasm Eye - Harderian gland

0
C57BL/6J Eye - Harderian gland neoplasm Eye - Harderian gland

0
B6;129S4 Eye - Harderian gland neoplasm Eye - Harderian gland

0 - 4
B6;129 Eye - Harderian gland neoplasm Eye - Harderian gland

0
129S4/SvJae Eye - Harderian gland neoplasm Eye - Harderian gland

0 - 53.9
129S4/SvJae Eye - Harderian gland tumor Eye - Harderian gland

observed
BALB/cAnNBdf Eye - Harderian gland tumor Eye - Harderian gland

observed
NMRI Eye - Harderian gland tumor Eye - Harderian gland

observed
C57BL/6JNia Intestine neoplasm Intestine

0 - 4
C57BL/6J Intestine neoplasm Intestine

0 - 4
B6;129S4 Intestine neoplasm Intestine

4
129S4/SvJae Intestine neoplasm Intestine

2.3 - 2.6
SENCAR Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte - Follicular center cell lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte - Follicular center cell

observed
C57L Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte

observed
SJL/J Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte

observed
CFW Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte

observed
SAMP Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte lymphoma - immunoblastic Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - B-lymphocyte

observed
SJL/J Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - Pre-B-lymphocyte lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - Pre-B-lymphocyte

observed
NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - Pro-T-lymphocyte lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - Pro-T-lymphocyte

observed
AKR/J Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - T-lymphocyte lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - T-lymphocyte

observed
C58/J Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - T-lymphocyte lymphoma Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - T-lymphocyte

observed
C.B-17-Prkdcscid Leukocyte - Lymphocyte - T-lymphocyte lymphoma Thymus

observed
SJL/J Leukocyte - Lymphocyte lymphoma - Hodgkin Leukocyte - Lymphocyte

observed
CD-1 Leukocyte - Lymphocyte lymphoma - lymphocytic Leukocyte - Lymphocyte

observed
C57BL/6JNia Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

observed - 15.4
C57BL/6J Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

observed - 15
B6;129S4 Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

6
129S4/SvJae Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

0 - 4.2
C57BL/6NNia Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

observed
FVB/NTac Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

observed
FVB/NHsd Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

observed
SAMP Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

observed
SENCAR Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte histiocytic sarcoma Leukocyte - Monocyte - Macrophage - Histiocyte

observed
AKR/J Leukocyte leukemia Leukocyte

observed
C58 Leukocyte leukemia Leukocyte

observed
C58/J Leukocyte leukemia Leukocyte

observed
SJL/J Leukocyte leukemia Leukocyte

observed
[not specified]-Foxn1nu Leukocyte leukemia Leukocyte

observed
C57BL/6JNia Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed - 50
C57BL/6J Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed - 57
B6;129S4 Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed - 67
129S4/SvJae Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

2.5 - 6.3
AKR Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
C57BL/6N Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
C57BL/6NNia Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
FVB/NTac Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
NOD/ShiLt Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
NOD.129S-Rag2tm1Fwa Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
[(AKR/J x DBA/2J)F1] x [(C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F1] Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
(Af x C57BL/6)F1 Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Leukocyte lymphoma
  • (see notes regarding diet)
 Leukocyte

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
C;129P2 Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
(BALB/cByJ x C57BL/6J)F1 x (C3H/HeJ x DBA/2J)F1 Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
[not specified]-Foxn1nu Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
CD-1 Leukocyte lymphoma Leukocyte

observed
C58 Leukocyte lymphoma - lymphosarcoma Leukocyte

observed
CD-1 Leukocyte lymphoma - pleomorphic Leukocyte

observed
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Liver - Hepatocyte neoplasm Liver - Hepatocyte

observed
FVB/NTac Liver - Hepatocyte tumor Liver - Hepatocyte

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Liver adenoma Liver

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver adenoma Liver

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Liver carcinoma Liver

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver carcinoma Liver

observed
B6;129S4 Liver hepatocellular adenoma Liver

observed
SENCAR Liver hepatocellular adenoma Liver

observed
CD-1 Liver hepatocellular adenoma Liver

observed
B6;129 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma Liver

observed
B6;129S4 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma Liver

observed
C;129P2 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma Liver

observed
CD-1 Liver hepatocellular carcinoma Liver

observed
C3H Liver hepatoma Liver

observed
CBA Liver hepatoma Liver

observed
CBA/Birmingham Liver hepatoma Liver

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Liver hepatoma
  • (see notes regarding diet)
 Liver

observed
C57BL/6JNia Liver neoplasm Liver

1.9 - 6
C57BL/6J Liver neoplasm Liver

0 - 4
B6;129S4 Liver neoplasm Liver

0 - 16
B6;129 Liver neoplasm Liver

9
129S4/SvJae Liver neoplasm Liver

0 - 22.5
129S4/SvJae Liver tumor Liver

observed
C3H/HeJ Liver tumor Liver

observed
C57BR/cdJ Liver tumor Liver

observed
NMRI Liver tumor Liver

observed
B6;129S4 Lung - Alveolus - Type II cell adenoma Lung - Alveolus - Type II cell

observed
B6;129S4 Lung - Alveolus - Type II cell carcinoma Lung - Alveolus - Type II cell

observed
[not specified]-Prop1df Lung adenocarcinoma Lung

observed
[not specified]-Prop1df/+ Lung adenocarcinoma Lung

observed
C;129P2 Lung adenocarcinoma Lung

observed
CD-1 Lung adenocarcinoma Lung

observed
A/HeN Lung adenoma Lung

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Lung adenoma Lung

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Lung adenoma
  • (see notes regarding diet)
 Lung

observed
SENCAR Lung adenoma Lung

observed
CD-1 Lung adenoma Lung

observed
A Lung carcinoma Lung

observed
A/HeN Lung carcinoma Lung

observed
B6;129 Lung carcinoma Lung

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Lung carcinoma Lung

observed
(BALB/cByJ x C57BL/6J)F1 x (C3H/HeJ x DBA/2J)F1 Lung carcinoma Lung

observed
SENCAR Lung carcinoma Lung

observed
C57BL/6JNia Lung neoplasm Lung

0 - 3.8
C57BL/6J Lung neoplasm Lung

2 - 8
B6;129S4 Lung neoplasm Lung

0 - 32
B6;129 Lung neoplasm Lung

17
129S4/SvJae Lung neoplasm Lung

4 - 62.5
FVB/NTac Lung neoplasm Lung

observed
(Af x C57BL/6)F1 Lung neoplasm Lung

observed
129S4/SvJae Lung tumor Lung

observed
A/J Lung tumor Lung

observed
A/HeJ Lung tumor Lung

observed
BALB/c Lung tumor Lung

observed
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Lung tumor Lung

observed
BALB/cAnNBdf Lung tumor Lung

observed
BALB/cAnNIcr Lung tumor Lung

observed
FVB/NTac Lung tumor Lung

observed
FVB/NHsd Lung tumor Lung

observed
CD-1 Lung tumor Lung

observed
NMRI Lung tumor Lung

observed
CD-1 Mammary gland adenocarcinoma Mammary gland

observed
C3H/HeJ Mammary gland adenocarcinoma - type B
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
C3HeB/FeJ Mammary gland adenocarcinoma - type B Mammary gland

observed
A Mammary gland carcinoma
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
Af Mammary gland carcinoma Mammary gland

observed
C3H Mammary gland carcinoma
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
C3Hf Mammary gland carcinoma Mammary gland

observed
GRS Mammary gland carcinoma Mammary gland

observed
FVB/N Mammary gland hyperplasia Mammary gland

observed
FVB/NCr Mammary gland hyperplasia Mammary gland

observed
C3H/HeJ Mammary gland hyperplasia - alveolar
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
C3HeB/FeJ Mammary gland hyperplasia - alveolar Mammary gland

observed
C57BL/6JNia Mammary gland neoplasm Mammary gland

0 - 2.1
C57BL/6J Mammary gland neoplasm Mammary gland

0
B6;129S4 Mammary gland neoplasm Mammary gland

0
129S4/SvJae Mammary gland neoplasm Mammary gland

0
BALB/cAnNBdf Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
C3H/HeJ Mammary gland tumor
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
C3HeB/FeJ Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
C3H/HeN Mammary gland tumor
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
C3H/HeNIcr Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
C3H/HeNIcrfC57BL Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
C3H/He Mammary gland tumor
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
C3H/Hef Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
DBA Mammary gland tumor
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Mammary gland

observed
DBAf Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
DBA/2AnIcr Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
FVB/NTac Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
SENCAR Mammary gland tumor Mammary gland

observed
FVB/NTac Neuroectoderm - Neural crest cell tumor Subcutis

observed
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Ovary cyst Ovary

observed
C57BL/6JfC3Hf/Nctr Ovary cyst Ovary

observed
SAMP Ovary cyst Ovary

observed
C57BL/6JNia Ovary neoplasm Ovary

1.9
C57BL/6J Ovary neoplasm Ovary

1
B6;129S4 Ovary neoplasm Ovary

17
129S4/SvJae Ovary neoplasm Ovary

26.7
FVB/NTac Ovary tumor Ovary

observed
FVB/NHsd Ovary tumor Ovary

observed
B6;129S4 Ovary tumor Ovary

observed
B6;129S4 Pancreas - Islet of Langerhans hyperplasia Pancreas - Islet of Langerhans

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Pancreas - Islet of Langerhans hyperplasia
  • (see notes regarding diet)
 Pancreas - Islet of Langerhans

observed
C57BL/6JNia Pancreas neoplasm Pancreas

0
C57BL/6J Pancreas neoplasm Pancreas

0
B6;129S4 Pancreas neoplasm Pancreas

0 - 4
129S4/SvJae Pancreas neoplasm Pancreas

0 - 2.1
FVB/NCr Pituitary gland - Pars distalis hyperplasia Pituitary gland - Pars distalis

observed
C57BL/6JfC3Hf/Nctr Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
C57BL/6JNia Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
C57BL/6NNia Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
FVB/NTac Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
FVB/NHsd Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
FVB/NCr Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Pituitary gland adenoma
  • (see notes regarding diet)
 Pituitary gland

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Pituitary gland adenoma Pituitary gland

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Pituitary gland carcinoma Pituitary gland

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Pituitary gland carcinoma Pituitary gland

observed
C57BL/6JfC3Hf/Nctr Pituitary gland cyst Pituitary gland

observed
C57BL/6JNia Pituitary gland neoplasm Pituitary gland

0 - 25.5
C57BL/6J Pituitary gland neoplasm Pituitary gland

0 - 7
B6;129S4 Pituitary gland neoplasm Pituitary gland

0 - 2
B6;129 Pituitary gland neoplasm Pituitary gland

15
129S4/SvJae Pituitary gland neoplasm Pituitary gland

0
FVB/NTac Pituitary gland prolactinoma Pituitary gland

observed
C57BL/6J Pituitary gland tumor Pituitary gland

observed
NMRI Pituitary gland tumor Pituitary gland

observed
FVB/N Skin - Ear squamous cell carcinoma
  • ear tag
 Skin - Ear

observed
CBA/Birmingham Spleen hyperplasia Spleen

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H/HeN)F1 Subcutis neoplasm Subcutis

observed
129/Sv Testis teratocarcinoma Testis

observed
129/Sv Testis teratoma Testis

observed
AKR Thymus leukemia Thymus

observed
AKR Thymus lymphoma Thymus

observed
AKR/J Thymus lymphoma Thymus

observed
NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid Thymus lymphoma Thymus

observed
B6;129S4 Thyroid gland - Follicular cell adenoma Thyroid gland - Follicular cell

observed
B6;129S4 Thyroid gland - Follicular cell carcinoma Thyroid gland - Follicular cell

observed
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Thyroid gland cyst
  • (see notes regarding diet)
 Thyroid gland

observed
C57BL/6JNia Thyroid gland neoplasm Thyroid gland

0
C57BL/6J Thyroid gland neoplasm Thyroid gland

0
B6;129S4 Thyroid gland neoplasm Thyroid gland

2 - 8
129S4/SvJae Thyroid gland neoplasm Thyroid gland

0 - 4.2
(C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 Uterus - Endometrium cyst
  • (see notes regarding diet)
 Uterus - Endometrium

observed
(BALB/cByJ x C57BL/6J)F1 x (C3H/HeJ x DBA/2J)F1 Uterus - Endometrium hyperplasia Uterus - Endometrium

observed
C57BL/6JfC3Hf/Nctr Uterus - Endometrium hyperplasia - cystic Uterus - Endometrium

observed
B6;129S4 Uterus - Endometrium tumor Uterus - Endometrium

observed
C3H/HeJ Uterus hyperplasia - glandular
  • MMTV - mouse mammary tumor virus
 Uterus

observed
C3HeB/FeJ Uterus hyperplasia - glandular Uterus

observed
C57BL/6JNia Uterus neoplasm Uterus

3.8
C57BL/6J Uterus neoplasm Uterus

4
B6;129S4 Uterus neoplasm Uterus

8
129S4/SvJae Uterus neoplasm Uterus

20.8
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr Uterus polyp Uterus

observed
C57BL/6JfC3Hf/Nctr (Unspecified organ) angiosarcoma (Unspecified organ)

observed
C57BL/6JNia (Unspecified organ) neoplasm (Unspecified organ)

57 - 71
C57BL/6J (Unspecified organ) neoplasm (Unspecified organ)

35 - 50
B6;129S4 (Unspecified organ) neoplasm (Unspecified organ)

25 - 60
B6;129 (Unspecified organ) neoplasm (Unspecified organ)

49 - 80
129S4/SvJae (Unspecified organ) neoplasm (Unspecified organ)

0 - 35
C57L (Unspecified organ) reticulum cell neoplasm (Unspecified organ)

observed
BALB/cStCrlfC3Hf/Nctr (Unspecified organ) reticulum cell sarcoma (Unspecified organ)

observed
BALB/cAnNBdf (Unspecified organ) reticulum cell sarcoma (Unspecified organ)

observed
SJL/J (Unspecified organ) reticulum cell sarcoma (Unspecified organ)

observed
NMRI (Unspecified organ) tumor (Unspecified organ)

observed