CBA\/J is a popular strain of inbred mouse model used in a wide variety of research applications. It is especially noted for its congenital early-onset blindness.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n
The ancestral CBA strain was developed by Strong in 1920, who crossed a DBA mouse with a Bagg albino mouse. He then selectively bred for a low incidence of breast cancer. CBA mice were obtained by Andervont in 1947, who then passed them to the Jackson Laboratory in 1948, where the CBA\/J strain was developed.[1]<\/a>[2]<\/a>[3]<\/a>[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The substrains of CBA have diverged to such an extent over the years that they are no longer genetically compatible; such a large divergence is unlikely to be solely due to genetic drift and may have resulted from some kind of contamination.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n CBA\/J mice are light\/tan brown in color.[1]<\/sup><\/a> They have a large brain and pituitary gland, small testes, large kidneys, a small thyroid, and a small heart. Their foot pads are reportedly less bristly than most strains.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”18033″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n One study provides evidence for low aggression in this strain.[5]<\/sup><\/a> Low spontaneous locomotor activity is also reported.[3]<\/sup><\/a> Hence, it would be expected that CBA\/J mice would respond well to handling, with minimal evasive behavior, struggling or biting during capture and holding. Although, no research is available specifically looking into the ease of handling of this strain.<\/p>\n Breeding performance is described as good to intermediate, with large litter sizes.[3]<\/sup><\/a> One study reports that mice of this strain spent an unusually large amount of time sleeping.[6]<\/sup><\/a> They are also susceptible to catalepsy i.e. pinch induced freezing.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n CBA\/J mice perform badly in both the radial arm maze<\/a> and Morris water maze<\/a>, which suggests a deficit in spatial learning and memory.[7]<\/sup><\/a> One study reports that this strain shows low immobility in the forced swimming test<\/a>, a result associated with low depressive mood, and linked by the researchers here with altered dopaminergic activity in the brain.[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n CBA\/J mice are the only CBA strain that carries the Pde6brd1<\/sup> <\/em>mutation of the enzyme phosphodiesterase 6b; as a consequence, they develop retinal degeneration starting from birth, which leads rapidly to complete blindness by the age of weaning.[1]<\/a>[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Lifespan for this strain is described as intermediate.[3]<\/sup><\/a> While this strain has been bred for low mammary cancer incidence, high incidence of tumor development is still reported; in particular, CBA\/J mice are susceptible to lymphoma, especially in females, as well as hepatoma, lung adenoma and leukemia.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n The CBA\/J strain does not carry any of the recessive genes responsible for the age-related hearing loss in BALB\/cByJ and C57BL\/6J, although it still experiences some hearing loss later in its lifespan.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n These mice are resistant to developing atherosclerosis when placed on an atherogenic diet (high fat, high cholesterol).[1]<\/sup><\/a> Despite this, CBA\/J has been described as \u201cone of the fattest strains\u201d, with a high-fat weight, especially in males.[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n Studies report a high frequency of lesions in the kidneys of these mice, and some have also been observed to spontaneously develop exocrine pancreatic insufficiency syndrome.[1]<\/a>[3]<\/a>[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”18035″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n This strain is frequently used to study granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (G-EAT),[4]<\/sup><\/a> an inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland. In addition, CBA\/J mice have played an important part in research into atherosclerosis, kidney abnormalities, pancreatic defects and enzyme deficiency, and hearing loss.[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\nPhysical Characteristics<\/h2>\n
Behavioral Characteristics & Handling<\/h2>\n
Health Characteristics<\/h2>\n
Major Experimental Uses<\/h2>\n
References<\/h2>\n