Breeding system and background data for SAM mice at Japan SLC

Abstract Japan SLC was commissioned by the Council for SAM Research to produce and market in Japan and South Korea five strains (SAMP1, SAMP6, SAMP8, SAMP10 and SAMR1) of Senescence-Accelerated Mouse (SAM) in the summer of 2002. Japan SLC undertook microbiological control and genetic monitoring of these five strains and at the same time maintained and produced them under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions in a uniformly controlled breeding environment for market. The company used the basic “traffic-light-system” for mass production of SAM mice in their actual maintenance and production. In the selection of maintenance lines, by checking the specific biological characteristics and pathological phenotype of each strain in addition to the system, the principle in selection was to be able to supply mice of high reproducibility with the phenotypical characteristics of each strain.