Rodent Resources

Miscellaneous Feed Information

Feed remains fresh for 6 months, and NIA only will provide a 3-month supply at a time.

Feed Supply Calculation

On request, the contractor can calculate the feed supply amount necessary for the animals. All requests for calculations must be included in the "Special Instructions" section on the NIA order form. Specify the selected feed type used to maintain the animals, quantity of animals, strain, gender, date of birth (DOB), and the length of time the animals will be maintained.

Food Charges

NIH Fortified	$10.00 per kg
NIH 31	$2.00 per kg
Freight	$13.00 flat rate

Pellet Sizes

• 2.5 g up to 3.5 in increments of .5–1 kg = 2.2 lbs
• Fortified 2.5–3.5 g pellet size
• NIH31: random-weight chunk formula, approximately 2.0–3.0 g various sized pellets

Caloric-Restricted (CR) Feeding Schedule

Weeks	Amount
13	100% (regular feed)
14	*90% (fortified)
15	75%
16+	60%

*CR begins at 4 months of age.

Miscellaneous Shipping Information

Overseas Shipping (NIH grantees only)

The maximum age for shipping F344 rats overseas is 26 months. The maximum age for shipping F344 x BN rats overseas is 36 months. There is a 2- to 3-week turnaround time from order placement to delivery.

Packing

Animals are packed one age group per crate.

Packing Information

Animal Type	Number per Crate
Rats	Harlan:6, CRL:4 male 3mo and younger,  3 male older than 4mo & 6 female
Mice	CRL:15
BALB/c Mice	5 (compartmentalized)

Cagemates

C57BL/6 animals are always shipped as cagemates. Other strains are not shipped as cagemates, unless specifically requested by customer on the NIA order form.

Air Delivery Customers

All air deliveries are shipped on Monday for Tuesday/Wednesday delivery. Animals must originate from the same barrier; barriers cannot be split.

Water Kits vs. Gel Packs

Both the water kit and gel pack are safe and effective. However:

• Gel packs have more stability
• Gel packs can leak and adhere to the bedding and the animals' hair
• Water packs may damage the box if the water kit valve is broken

Customs Information: Canada

When using NIA transport trucks, Harlan is responsible for passing animals through customs. If the animals are delivered via air transport, the customer must have his or her own customs broker to pass the animals through customs.

Miscellaneous Health Information

Helicobacter

The health of the barriers vary; some barriers have Helicobacter rodentium, Helicobacter hepaticus, both, or neither.

Tumors

Tumors are considered normal in rodents aged 16 months and older.

Surgeries

There is a 2- to 3-week turnaround time from order placement to delivery for orders involving surgery.

Age of Maturity

Regarding age and reproductive function, F344 males and females reach their sexual maturity at approximately 7 weeks of age.

General Information

Stock

All mice are of Jackson stock. NIA receives new stock at the beginning of each contract. Animals are rederived and set up specifically for NIA.

Credit for Animal Replacement

For animal replacement, the Office of Biological Resources and Resource Development (OBRRD) must be notified within 48 hours of delivery. OBRRD will provide replacement animals under the following conditions:

• If animals are "dead on arrival"
• If animals die within 48 hours of arrival
• If the incorrect animal type is delivered

Age of Replacement Animals

Animals will be replaced at the same age as the original order, unless the customer specifically indicates the same DOB.

Vendor Location for Animal Research Papers

The vendor, NIA at Harlan Sprague Dawley, or Charles River Laboratories, or Taconic Farms. 

Yearly Animal Prices

Animal prices are increased yearly by approximately 4 percent.

Orders for Collaborators

NIA grantees may order animals to be delivered to collaborators; however, the animals must be billed to the grantee. If the grantee is ordering animals for delivery to a commercial institution, approval must be obtained via email from Dr. Nancy Nadon of OBRRD.

Inclement Weather Policy

NIA will not make any shipments when the atmospheric temperature and/or the temperature within the transportation carrier are harmful to the shipment.

Payments

1. Payments are accepted in United States currency only.
2. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
3. Customers cannot prepay for animals.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grantees

SBIR grantees are permitted to order if they are funded by NIA.

Miscellaneous Animal Information

 

Strain Colors: Rats

Rat Strain	Color
F344	White Albino
F344 x BN	*Brownish-Black
BN	Brown

 

*Includes white area on chest and underbelly.

Strain Colors: Mice

Mouse Strain	Color
BALB/c	White Albino
C57BL/6	Intense Black
CBA	Agouti (brownish-gray)
DBA	Dilute Brown/Non-Agouti (silvery-light gray)
B6D2F1	Black
CB63F1	Agouti (brownish-gray)
CB6F1	Agouti (brownish-gray)

Weight of Animals

Customers are permitted to specify a weight range, but they are not permitted to request a specific weight.

Information Regarding DOB

NIA only can provide dates in a "month/year" format because the contractor weans several litters born in the same week at the same time and randomly assigns them to cages. Animals in the same cage do not have the same actual day of birth. NIA does not require the contractor to record the specific day of birth on the aging cage cards, only the month of birth.

Housing

If any animals die, no additional animals are added to their cage. Animals in the CR colonies are individually housed.

Animal Housing

Animal	Number per Cage
Rat	Harlan:3, CRL: 4
Mouse	CRL:4

Gene Information

Gene-Related Terms and Indications

Term	Indications
Transgenic	A gene has been added.
Targeted Mutation	Gene has been changed to inactive.
Mutation	Gene has been changed.

Tissue Bank Resources

Tumor Tissue Identification

To indicate tumor tissue, vials have a red top, and larger vials are marked with a red "dot".

Vital Statistics Sheet

The Vital Statistics Sheet lists all information, including tumors.

Sample Numbers

Number of Samples Packed in a "Normal" Sized Shipping Box

Vial Size	Number of Samples	Comments
Small	200	Most mouse tissue is in small vials.
Large	25	Includes some rat tissue and larger mouse organs.