BALB/c nude

BALB/c nude

BALB/c nude

Strain details
NomenclatureBALB/c-Foxn1nu/Ozarc
Common nameBALB/c nude
SynonymsBALB/c nu, Nude
StrainMutant inbred
Coat ColourAlbino (A/A Tyrp1b/Tyrp1b Tyrc/Tyrc)
SpeciesMouse
Genetic background-
LocationArea Oz1
Weekly wean target100 males,100 females

Strain description

  • MHC haplotype: H2Kd
  • Complement factor: C5 normal
  • Haired when heterozygous, nude when homozygous
  • Nude is an autosomal recessive mutation located on chromosome 11.
  • Foxn1nu – autosomal recessive Forkhead box N1.
  • Typically, litters consist of equal nude and haired offspring. Preweaner nudes are not as robust as heterozygous littermates and are prone to heat loss, dehydration and slower weight gains. Hence, they should not be weaned before 4 weeks of age.
  • Prone to dust in their eyes due to lack of eyelashes.
  • Homozygous are athymic.
  • Female nu/+ prone to cystitis.
  • The two major defects are failure of hair growth and dysgenesis of thymic epithelium due to developmental failure of the thymic anlage arising from the 3rd pharyngeal pouch.
  • The defect lies in the thymic epithelium, there bring no intrinsic defect in T cell precursors.
  • Nude mice respond poorly to thymus-dependent antigens because of a defect in helper T-cell activity.
  • Reponses to thymus-independent antigens is normal.
  • Normal or increased NK cell activities is present.
  • Housed in an isolator – immunodeficient.
  • WEHI obtained non-inbred stock carrying the nude gene and through backcrossing with a BALB/c strain obtained from Bradley, Melbourne University (1965), established the mutant gene on a BALB/c background. ANSTO received stock from WEHI in 1976 as N8. ARC Received from them from Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation(ANSTO), NSW in 1987 as N38.
  • BALB/c nude strain is transferred from ARC to Ozgene ARC in 2023.

The BALB/c mouse is among the most widely used inbred models used in biomedical research, and is particularly utilized in immunology and infectious disease research. Their ability to produce plasma cell tumours within soft tissue is important in the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Past ARC and transfer reports:

Current Ozgene ARC reports (from 01-Jun-2023)

  • Mouse images are representative only. Actual phenotypes may vary based on genotype, sex, age, husbandry, health status, and other factors.