Immune Deficient Mouse Model
BALB/c-nu
| Model | Nomenclature | Hair | Complement Factor |
| BALB/c-nu | BALB/c-Foxn1nu/Arc | albino | C5 normal |
- 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 as no eyelashes.
- Homozygotes are athymic.
- Female nu/+ prone to cystitis.
- High Incidence of divided septums.
- 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 being no intrinsic defect in T cell precursors. Nude
mice respond poorly to thymus-dependent antigens because of a
defect in helper T-cell activity. Responses to thymus-independent
antigens are normal. Normal or increased NK cell activity is present.
- Housed in an isolator – immunodeficient.
