SJL

Inbr: F104 (J). Albino. Genet: c, p, rd. Origin: Swiss Webster outbred stock from three sources that were brought to The Jackson Laboratory between 1938 and 1943, and pen-bred until 1955, when sib-mating was started. Although the strain has been developed relatively recently, it has rapidly become widely used owing to the high incidence of reticulum cell sarcomas resembling Hodgkin's disease. General biological data on the strain have been reviewed by Crispens (1973). Carries the pink-eyed dilution gene, p, which is derived from Asian mice of the Mus musculus type (see also strains 129/J, P/J and FS/Ei) (Brilliant et al, 1994)

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Behaviour

High spontaneous fighting (Page and Glenner, 1972). Severe fighting among males housed together, beginning at about 8 weeks. Most males will be killed by 4-5 months unless caged separately (Crispens, 1973).

Life-span and spontaneous disease

Short life-span in conventional conditions (8/22 = 472 days in males, 3/22 = 395 days in females). High gross tumour incidence (4/22 females, 6/22 males) (Storer, 1966). Reticulum cell sarcomas appear in about 90% of animals at an average age of about 13 months (Murphy, 1963; Crispens, 1973; Fujinaga et al., 1970., 1970). These first appear in the Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes and later in the spleen, liver, thymus and other lymph nodes (Crispens, 1973). Most of the tumours are pleomorphic or mixed-cell types commonly called type-B reticulum cell neoplasms by Dunn, but a few are type-A histiocytomas. The unusual feature of the SJL reticulum cell tumours is their regular and early appearance, with the preneoplastic lesion detectable as early as 22 days (Potter, 1972). Tumour development as well as autoimmunity may result from an effective amplification of the immune response (Owens and Bonavida, 1976). Leukaemia 83% (Myers et al., 1970., 1970). High incidence of spontaneous amyloidosis, possibly associated with fighting (Page and Glenner, 1972). Develops gamma-l and gamma-2 paraproteinaemia (Wanebo et al., 1966., 1966). Hyperplastic neuroretinopathy and disorders of pigment epithelial cells with a high incidence of subretinal tumor is present at 9 days (Caffe et al 1993).

Normal physiology and biochemistry

Low plasma cholesterol at 24 weeks (7/8 males, 8/8 females) (Weibust, 1973). High metabolic rate (2/18) (Storer, 1967). Low serum ceruloplasmin levels in females (23/27) but intermediate in males (Meier and MacPike, 1968). High systolic blood pressure (5/19) (Schlager and Weibust, 1967). Low plasma cholinesterase activity in males (20/22) (Angel et al., 1967., 1967). High mean heart rate (1/7), but low mean heart rate adaptation (7/7) (Blizard and Welty, 1971). High brain sphingosine (1/5) and low brain sterol (5/5) (Sampugna et al., 1975., 1975). Low hepatic delta-aminolaevulinic acid synthetase activity after DDC treatment (13/15) (Gross and Hutton, 1971). Venous blood has a low pH (9/10) (Dagg, 1966). Resistant to the development of atherosclerosis on a semi-synthetic high fat diet (cf 5/9) (Nishina et al, 1993). High intrinsic myogenicity of muscle cells both in-vivo and in-vitro (Maley et al, 1994, Mitchell et al, 1995)).

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Anatomy

Low brain weight (17/18 in males, 16/18 in females) (Storer, 1967). Low brain weight (22/25), small spinal cord (24/25) (Roderick et al., 1973., 1973). Cerebellum has no intraculminate fissure between vermian lobule IV and vermian lobule V (the ventral and dorsal lobules of the culmen) (contrast DBA/2) (Cooper et al 1991). Low percent carcass lipid on a high-fat diet (3/9) (West et al 1992). Low retinal ganglion cell number (6/24) (Williams et al, 1996). High bone density of femur (4/11) (Beamer et al, 1996).

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Drugs

Resistant to skin ulceration by DMBA (cf. 9/22) (Thomas et al., 1973., 1973). Resistant to induction of subcutaneous tumours by 3-methylcholanthrene (11/14) (Kouri et al., 1973., 1973), (9/12) (Whitmire et al., 1971., 1971). Resistant to X-irradiation (3/27) (Roderick, 1963). Poor ovulatory response to 3 I.U. (5/6) and 7 I.U. (5/6) of PMS, but response facilitated by exposure to males at latter dose rate only (Zarrow et al., 1971., 1971). Resistant to hyperbaric oxygen (14/18) (Hill et al., 1968., 1968) Short survival in 90% oxygen (2/10) (Lieberman and Kellog, 1967). Resistant to X-irradiation as judged by the LD₅₀ (Yuhas and Storer, 1969). Susceptible to induction of splenic amyloidosis by injection of casein (1/7) (Clerici, 1972). Susceptible to induction of lymphoid and myeloid leukaemia by DMBA (Crispens, 1973). Resistant to biliary tract injury following oral dosing with 500 micrograms of the fungal toxin sporidesmin (4/4) (Bhathal et al 1990). Airways hyporeactive to acetylcholine (c.f. 3/7) (Zhang et al, 1995). Susceptible (cf 5/8) to ozone-induced decreases of tracheal potential (Takahashi et al, 1995). Low voluntary comsumption of morphine in two-bottle choice situation (12/15) (Belknap et al, 1993). Susceptible to weight loss induced by cocaine, but this is attenuated by anisomycin (cf C3H, CBA) (Shimosato et al, 1994).

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Immunology

Susceptible to induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) (1/18) (Levine and Sowinski, 1973). High susceptibility to induction of EAE (1/10) but moderate mortality (Lindsey, 1996). Low lymphocyte phytohaemagglutinin response (29/43) (Heiniger et al., 1975., 1975). Poor immune response to small doses of bovine gamma-globulin (cf. 4/8) (Levine and Vaz, 1970). Poor immune response to DNP-keyhole-limpet haemocyanin (11/11) (Borel and Kilham, 1974). No immune response to GAT (random terpolymer of Glu⁶⁰, Ala³⁰, Tyr¹⁰) (10/10) (Dorf et al., 1974., 1974). Discriminator between `H' and `L' sheep erythrocytes (cf. 12/18) (McCarthy and Dutton, 1975). Very sensitive to anaphylactic shock (Treadwell, 1969). Resistant to induction of immunological tolerance (1/14) (Fujiwara and Cinader, 1974). Poor immune response to (Pro⁶⁶, Gly³⁴)n (7/7) (Fuchs et al., 1974., 1974). High (3/12) susceptibility to IgE- and IgG₁-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (De Souza et al., 1974., 1974). Erythrocytes have a high agglutinability (cf. 14/25) (Rubinstein et al., 1974., 1974). Low response to Dextran (cf. 6/10) (Blomberg et al., 1972., 1972). Immune response to type-III pneumococcal polysaccharide declines by 42 weeks, in contrast to BALB/c and C3H (Smith, 1976). Susceptible to induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (cf. 2/5) (Vladutiu and Rose, 1971a). Thymocytes exhibit a periodicity (5-9 days)in their response to hormonal stimulation with isoproterenol. This is expressed in large changes in the intensity of the response (peak levels of intracellular cAMP which vary approximately 6-fold), and in the response pattern, i.e., in the occurrence or non-occurrence of an immediate hormone-induced desensitization. In contrast, C57BL/6 thymocytes have a homogeneous response pattern (Riven-Kreitman et al 1990). Resistant to immunosuppression of contact hypersensitivity by ultraviolet B light (cf 4/18) (Noonan and Hoffman, 1994). Low natural killer cell response to the immunostimulent 7-allyl-8-oxoguanosine (6/6) (Pope et al, 1994). Has defective T cell receptor-induced interleukin-4 production and absence of T-cells with the NK1.1 antigen. However, natural-killer-like T-cells develop nromally in spite of these defects (Beutner et al, 1997). Mast cells grow faster in culture and have more than twice the amount of histamine and TNF-alpha in their granules than BALB/c (Bebo et al, 1996). High level of serum complement C5 (Lynch and Kay, 1995).

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Infection

Encephalomyocarditis virus causes diabetes mellitus (cf. 7/14) (Boucher et al., 1975., 1975). High susceptibility to develop leukaemia on infection with Friend virus (cf. 5/11) (Dietz and Rich, 1972). Resistant to measles virus (1/6) (Rager-Zisman et al., 1976., 1976). Develop flaccid paralysis and survivors develop a distinct neurological disorder associated with marked mononuclear cell infiltration and active demyelination in spinal cord after intracerebral inoculation with Theiler's encephalomyelitis virus. Incubation period may be 2-3 months (Lipton and Dal Canto, 1976). Resistant to street rabies virus (SRV) injected via the intraperitoneal route (Perry and Lodmell 1991). Develops herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) resembling the human condition, following intranasal infection with a neurovirulent clinical isolate of herpes simplex virus type 1 (contrast 9 other strains) (Hudson et al 1991). Resistant to carditis on infection with Lyme borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi) (contrast C3H, SWR, BALB/c) (Barthold et al 1990). High eosinophilia on infection with the helminth Mesocestoides corti (1/12) and highly susceptible to infection with the parasite. Larval burdens at 21 days after infection with 100 tetrathyridia being considerably higher (greater than 1000) than all other strains except NIH, which was comparable. (Lammas et al 1990). Susceptibile to infection by Helicobacter felis with moderate to severe chronic active gastritis in the body of the stomach, which increased over time (cf 4/6) (Sakagami et al, 1996).

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INBRED STRAINS OF MICE
Updated 9 Apr. 1998
Michael FW Festing
MRC Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building,
University of Leicester, UK