Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mouse functional genomics requires standardization of mouse handling and housing conditions

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Mammalian Genome Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study of mouse models is crucial for the functional annotation of the human genome. The recent improvements in mouse genetics now moved the bottleneck in mouse functional genomics from the generation of mutant mice lines to the phenotypic analysis of these mice lines. Simple, validated, and reproducible phenotyping tests are a prerequisite to improving this phenotyping bottleneck. We analyzed here the impact of simple variations in animal handling and housing procedures, such as cage density, diet, gender, length of fasting, as well as site (retro-orbital vs. tail), timing, and anesthesia used during venipuncture, on biochemical, hematological, and metabolic/endocrine parameters in adult C57BL/6J mice. Our results, which show that minor changes in procedures can profoundly affect biological variables, underscore the importance of establishing uniform and validated animal procedures to improve reproducibility of mouse phenotypic data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • RS Ahima D Prabakaran JS Flier (1998) ArticleTitlePostnatal leptin surge and regulation of circadian rhythm of leptin by feeding. Implications for energy homeostasis and neuroendocrine function J Clin Invest 101 IssueID5 1020–1027 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhs1yqsL4%3D Occurrence Handle9486972

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • G Boden X Chen M Mozzoli I Ryan (1996) ArticleTitleEffect of fasting on serum leptin in normal human subjects J Clin Endocrinol Metab 81 IssueID9 3419–3423 Occurrence Handle10.1210/jc.81.9.3419 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28Xls1Ortbk%3D Occurrence Handle8784108

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Chowdhury M Nishikawa GW Blevins SuffixJr PL Rayford (2000) ArticleTitleResponse of rat exocrine pancreas to high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 223 IssueID3 310–315 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1525-1373.2000.22344.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXksVKqu7k%3D Occurrence Handle10719845

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JC Dale MF Burritt AR Zinsmeister (2002) ArticleTitleDiurnal variation of serum iron, iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and ferritin levels Am J Clin Pathol 117 IssueID5 802–808 Occurrence Handle10.1309/2YT4-CMP3-KYW7-9RK1 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlvVSgtLo%3D Occurrence Handle12090432

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PE Johnson HC Lukaski TD Bowman (1987) ArticleTitleEffects of level and saturation of fat and iron level and type in the diet on iron absorption and utilization by the rat J Nutr 117 IssueID3 501–507 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2sXktlynsLg%3D Occurrence Handle3572563

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WB Kinlaw HL Schwartz JH Oppenheimer (1985) ArticleTitleDecreased serum triiodothyronine in starving rats is due primarily to diminished thyroidal secretion of thyroxine J Clin. Invest 75 IssueID4 1238–1241 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXhvFyntrc%3D Occurrence Handle3988938

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Krotkiewski (2002) ArticleTitleThyroid hormones in the pathogenesis and treatment of obesity Eur J Pharmacol 440 IssueID2–3 85–98 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0014-2999(02)01420-6 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XjsVSktL4%3D Occurrence Handle12007527

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Métais (1988) Biochimie clinique Simep Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • JH Nadeau R Balling G Barsh D Beier SD Brown et al. (2001) ArticleTitleSequence interpretation Functional annotation of mouse genome sequences. Science 291 IssueID5507 1251–1255 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhtlShu70%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MA Nobrega LA Pennacchio (2004) ArticleTitleComparative genomic analysis as a tool for biological discovery J Phvsiol 554 IssueIDPt 1 31–39 Occurrence Handle10.1113/jphysiol.2003.050948 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXpvVChtA%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T O’Brien R Woychik (2003) ArticleTitleOur small relative Nat Genet 33 IssueID1 3–4 Occurrence Handle10.1038/ng1069 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XpvVeqsL8%3D Occurrence Handle12469124

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C Perez JR Canal E Dominguez JE Campillo M Guillen et al. (1997) ArticleTitleIndividual housing influences certain biochemical parameters in the rat Lab Anim 31 IssueID4 357–361 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnt1Gksrs%3D Occurrence Handle9350707

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JH Riley (1992) ArticleTitleClinical pathology: preanalytical variation in preclinical safety assessment studies—effect on predictive value of analyte tests Toxicol Pathol 20 IssueID3 Pt 2 490–500 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyB3crpvV0%3D Occurrence Handle1296278

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Saladin P Vos ParticleDe M Guerre–Millo A Leturque J Girard et al. (1995) ArticleTitleTransient increase in obese gene expression after food intake or insulin administration Nature 377 IssueID6549 527–529 Occurrence Handle10.1038/377527a0 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXoslWlsbY%3D Occurrence Handle7566150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MA Schnell C Hardy M Hawley KJ Propert JM Wilson (2002) ArticleTitleEffect of blood collection technique in mice on clinical pathology parameters Hum Gene Ther 13 IssueID1 155–161 Occurrence Handle10.1089/10430340152712700 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlsV2lsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11779419

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Skalicky E Narath A Viidik (2001) ArticleTitleHousing conditions influence the survival and body composition of ageing rats Exp Gerontol 36 IssueID1 159–170 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0531-5565(00)00174-1 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3gtlGlsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11162919

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • H Tabata T Kitamura N Nagamatsu (1998) ArticleTitleComparison of effects of restraint, cage transportation, anesthesia and repeated bleeding on plasma glucose levels between mice and rats Lab Anim 32 IssueID2 143–148 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXivFWmtL8%3D Occurrence Handle9587896

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • BP Zambrowicz AT Sands (2003) ArticleTitleKnockouts model the 100 best-selling drugs—will they model the next 100? Nat Rev Drug Discov 2 IssueID1 38–51 Occurrence Handle10.1038/nrd987 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXnt1Y%3D Occurrence Handle12509758

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank animal facility technicians for expert technical assistance. This work was supported by grants of CNRS, INSERM, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Reseau National en Genomique of the French Research Ministry, EU (Eumorphia program; QLRT-2001-00930), and NIH (1-P01-DK59820-01).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Clinique de la Souris, BP10142, 67404, Illkirch Cedex, France

    Marie–France Champy, Mohammed Selloum, Laetitia Piard, Valerie Zeitler, Claudia Caradec, Pierre Chambon & Johan Auwerx

Authors
  1. Marie–France Champy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammed Selloum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laetitia Piard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Valerie Zeitler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Claudia Caradec
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Pierre Chambon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Johan Auwerx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marie–France Champy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Champy, M., Selloum, M., Piard, L. et al. Mouse functional genomics requires standardization of mouse handling and housing conditions. Mamm Genome 15, 768–783 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-004-2393-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-004-2393-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation