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Chapter One
Mice - general information
Hermann Dietrich
Central Laboratory Animal Facilities, Innsbruck Medical University,
Peter-Mayr-Strasse 4a, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Abstract
The gentle and careful use of laboratory animals requires specific knowledge on the
general biology and the characteristic hallmarks of the used animals and the adequate
consideration of legal requirements, ethical aspects, and scientific guidelines. In this
chapter, important topics of laboratory animal science regarding the mouse as laboratory
animal are addressed. Initially, a brief historical overview of the mouse is given and the
step from the house mouse to the worldwide actually mostly used laboratory animal
species. Moreover, housing conditions of mice, maintaining, and selected genetic
principles are described. Commonly used handling techniques are explained in detail.
For practical benefit, adequate methods for the sampling of blood and bone marrow
cells and the application of substances, in particular, the intravenous injection technique,
are described ... read full excerpt from A Handbook of Mouse Models of Cardiovascular Disease ebook