BALB/C strain mice

Over the past decade, there have been considerable advances in our understanding of the immunobiological mechanisms that result in the quality of immune response necessary for the induction of chemical respiratory allergy. Experiments designed to characterize immune responses in mice to chemical sensitizers have demonstrated that different classes of chemical allergen stimulate the development of qualitatively discrete immune responses consistent with the selective emergence of functional subpopulations of T lymphocytes [16]. Thus, topical exposure of BALB/c strain mice to chemical contact allergens such as 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) results in the induction of... 

Betts, C.J., Flanagan, B.F., Caddick, H.T., Dearman, R.J. and Kimber, I., Intradermal exposure of BALB/c strain mice to peanut protein elicits a type 2 cytokine response. Food Chem. Toxic., 42, 1589, 2004. 

During the course of investigations of the mouse IgE test, responses induced by TMA and DNCB have been measured concurrently in over 15 independent experiments. The test concentrations chosen for such comparisons (25 per cent TMA and 1 per cent DNCB) were selected as those that were found to be of equivalent immunogenicity in BALB/c strain mice with respect to the stimulation of draining lymph node cell proliferative responses. In all experiments the concentration of serum IgE recorded following exposure of mice to TMA was increased significantly compared with levels measured in sera drawn from animals treated concurrently with vehicle alone or with DNCB. In no instance did DNCB cause an increase in serum IgE levels relative... 

In conclusion, the experimental protocol recommended presently is as follows. Groups of six BALB/c strain mice are exposed topically on both shaved flanks to 50 pi of one of three concentrations of the test material or to an equal volume of vehicle alone. Additional groups of mice receive 25 per cent TMA, 1 per cent DNCB or the same volume of 4 1 acetone olive oil, the vehicle of choice for these chemicals. Seven days later mice are treated on the dorsum of both ears with 25 pi of the same chemical at half the application concentration used previously, or with the same volume of vehicle alone. Fourteen days following the initiation of exposure, mice are exsanguinated by cardiac puncture and serum prepared and stored at -20°C until analysis (Hilton et al., 1995, 1996). This protocol is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7.2. 

To date there is little confirmatory evidence available from independent laboratories regarding the sensitivity and selectivity of the mouse IgE test, although Potter and Wederbrand (1995) have recently reported similar, although not identical, results using BALB/c strain mice. Of interest also are preliminary data that indicate a rat variant of the mouse IgE test may be achievable. It was shown that topical exposure to TMA, but not DNCB, elicited an increase in the serum concentration of IgE in Brown Norway rats (Arts et al., 1995). 

Figure 7.3 Production by draining lymph node cells of IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-yfollcwing repeated topical exposure of mice to TMA or DNCB. Groups of BALB/c strain mice (n=10) received 50 pi of 1 per cent DNCB or 10 per cent TMA (both in AOO) bilaterally on both shaved flanks. Five days later this treatment was repeated. After a further 5 days, 25 pi of chemical was applied to the dorsum of both ears daily for 3 consecutive days. One day following the final exposure mice were killed and draining auricular lymph nodes excised and pooled for each experimental group. A single cell suspension of lymph node cells was prepared and cultured in the presence (for mitogen-inducible IL-4 production), or absence (for the measurement of spontaneous IL-10 and IFN-y secretion) of 2 pg. ml 1 concanavalin A. Culture was terminated after various periods and the concentrations of IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-y measured in supernatants by cytokine-specific ELISA. In each case cytokine concentrations are recorded as mean values in ng. mf1. Standard errors are shewn when greater than 0.3 ng. mf1. A, IL-4 B, IL-10 and C, IFN-y.

Differences in the crossed projections have been reported between the rat and the mouse, since it has been suggested that in the latter species the VTA and the retrorubral field, but not the SNc, contribute sparse crossed projections to the striatum (Mattiace et al., 1989). In addition, inter-strain differences have been reported in mice for example, crossed projections were documented in the CBA strain, but not in the BALB/c strain (Mattiace et al., 1989). 

Dearman, R.J. et al., The mouse IgE test Interlaboratory evaluation and comparison of BALB/c and C57B1/6 strain mice. Toxicol. Methods, 8, 69, 1998. 

Fig. 6.1 Different strains of mice detect different concentrations of urinary odours of conspecifics with BALB/c>129/Sl>C57BL/6. Presented are the mean durations ( SEM) that mice investigated water and three sequential 2-min presentations of the same concentration of urine from one of the other strains at (A) 10 2, (B) 10 3 and (C) 10-4 concentrations. Immediatelyafter the presentation of Urine A, mice were exposed to a novel urine B (the other foreign strain) at the same concentration.(Reprinted from Neuroscience, 118, Lee, Emsley, Brown, and Hagg, T. Marked differences in olfactory sensitivity and apparent speed of forebrain neuroblast migration in three inbred strains of mice. 263-270, Copyright (2006), with permission from Elsevier)...

With respect to mice, the CD-I is by far the most commonly used strain in the pharmaceutical industry. Other strains used less frequently are the B6C3F1, CF-1, NMRI, C57B1, Balb/c, and Swiss (PMA, 1988 Rao et al., 1988). Swiss is the generic term since most currently used inbred and outbred strains were originally derived from the Swiss mouse. 

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