Rodent and Tissue Bank Resources Information

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, Harlan 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.

Pellet Sizes

• 2.5 g up to 5.0 in increments of .5–1 kg = 2.2 lbs
• Fortified 2.5–5.0 g pellet size
• NIH31: random-weight chunk formula, approximately 2.0–3.0 g various sized pellets

*CR begins at 4 months of age.

Miscellaneous Shipping Information

Overseas Shipping

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.

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.

Helicobacter-Free Rodents

Helicobacter-free rodents include the following:

1. All F344 x BN rodents
2. F344 males up to a 2/02 DOB
3. F344 females up to a 2/02 DOB
4. All mice in 217 up to a 9/02 DOB

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, is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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.

Weight of Animals

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

Retired Breeders

Retired breeders start at 9 months old; these are male F344 rats only.

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 at Harlan

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

Gene Information

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