Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

08:20
Murine Distal Colostomy, A Novel Model of Diversion Colitis in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: July 12, 2018
Inbred wild type mouse strains have distinct spontaneous morphological phenotypes
R Serpi1, T Klein-Rodewald, J Calzada-Wack
1Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
Histology and Histopathology
|December 13, 2012
Summary
Understanding spontaneous lesions in wild-type mice is crucial for accurate disease modeling. This study screened six common mouse strains, revealing inherent morphological differences that impact genetic research and human disease translation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Animal Models
- Genetics
Background:
- Mice are vital for human disease modeling.
- Genetically modified mouse models are increasingly important.
- Baseline phenotypic data for wild-type mice are incomplete.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen common inbred mouse strains for spontaneous morphological lesions.
- To provide baseline phenotypic data for accurate interpretation of mouse models.
- To assess how inherent lesions affect genetic manipulation outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Screening of haematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections.
- Analysis of brain, reproductive organs, urinary bladder, kidney, thyroid, parathyroid, heart, lung, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, adrenal glands, stomach, intestine, liver, skin, and pancreas.
- Evaluation of six common inbred mouse strains: C57BL6/J, C57BL6/NTac, C3HeB/FeJ, BALB/cByJ, 129P2/OlaHsd, and FVB/N.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous morphological phenotypes were observed in the liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, lungs, intestines, and heart.
- Inherent lesions vary among different mouse strains.
- These variations can influence the interpretation of gene function and experimental results.
Conclusions:
- Careful selection of background mouse strains is essential for genetic manipulations.
- Inherent lesions can confound the study of targeted genes.
- Accurate translation of mouse model results to human disease requires awareness of strain-specific baseline morphology.
Related Concept Videos
Mouse Models of Cancer Study
Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
In-vitro Mutagenesis
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.

