Housing and Environment
Temperature: 22 to 25°C
R.H.: 50 to 70 percent
Light/Dark cycle: 14/10
Housing: Four adult mice per cage or: Breeders + litter
Mouse Genome
Number of chromosomes: 40
Diploid DNA content about 6 pg per cell
3x10 9 bp per haploid genome
Physiological Parameters
Body temperature: 37 to 38°C
Respiration rate: 94 to 163 per minute
Heart rate: 325 to 780 beats per minute
Water consumption: 3 to 7 ml per day
Urine excreted: 1 to 3 ml per day
Daily feed: 3 to 6 g per day
Blood volume: 70 to 80 ml/kg bodyweight
Blood collection: Max volume 0.5 to 0.7 percent of bodyweight
Breeding and Reproductive Data
Breeding age: Six weeks
Cycle: Polyestrus four to five days when housed with a male
Mating: Place the female(s) into the male’s cage
Gestation: 19 to 21 days
Litter size: 6 to 12
Weaning age: 21 days
Optimal reproductive span: Seven to eight months
Other Information
Life span: 1.5 to 2.5 years.
Albinos have very poor eyesight due to degenerative retinas.
High sensitivity to water loss.
No sweat glands, can’t pant, poor salivation and can’t vomit.
Lose heat from ears and tail.
One lung lobe on the left and four on the right.
Male mice have 50 percent more spleenic tissue than females.
The tail is very sensitive to pain and is used in balance and as a thermoregulatory organ.