不同品系小鼠对代谢性高尿酸血症造模的影响

目的:分别以昆明种小鼠及ICR、C57BL/6J小鼠为研究对象,比较在复制高尿酸血症模型时可能的小鼠品系差异,并通过降尿酸药物别嘌呤醇与非布索坦验证选择降尿酸药物筛选时选用不同品系动物造模的影响。方法:采用不同剂量次黄嘌呤腹腔注射联用尿酸酶抑制剂氧嗪酸钾皮下注射给药,测定不同造模时段各品系小鼠血清尿酸值。结果:ICR、C57BL/6J小鼠对高尿酸血症造模耐受显著高于昆明种小鼠,在腹腔注射次黄嘌呤500mg/kg,皮下注射氧嗪酸钾300mg/kg时,才可获得稳定的可用于药物筛选的高尿酸血症模型。结论:选择高尿酸血症在体模型时,昆明种小鼠灵敏度高于ICR小鼠以及近交系的C57BL/6J小鼠。     

L-阿拉伯糖对尿酸的调节作用

该文研究了L-阿拉伯糖对正常及高尿酸血症小鼠尿酸的调节作用。在正常小鼠、氧嗪酸钾和次黄嘌呤联合诱导的高尿酸血症小鼠以及氧嗪酸钾和尿酸联合诱导的高尿酸血症小鼠中,通过灌胃给予L-阿拉伯糖:收集尿液,测定尿酸排泄量;取血,测定血清中尿酸、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、血糖、肌酐、尿素氮等常规生化指标;处死小鼠后,取肝、肾、脾,称重,计算脏器指数;取小肠与肝脏,匀浆后测定黄嘌呤氧化酶活性。结果表明:L-阿拉伯糖对正常小鼠,可以增加尿酸排泄,但不能降低血尿酸水平;对氧嗪酸钾和次黄嘌呤联合诱导的高尿酸血症小鼠,对尿酸排泄没有影响,但能升高血尿酸水平;对氧嗪酸钾和尿酸联合诱导的高尿酸血症小鼠,对尿酸排泄及血尿酸水平都没有影响。该研究结果表明L-阿拉伯糖对正常血尿酸水平没有影响,但能升高特定条件下高尿酸血症小鼠的血尿酸水平。     

4种小鼠的寒、热体质研究

[目的]研究4种品系小鼠的寒、热体质。[方法]8~9周龄昆明、BALB/c、C57BL/6J、ICR小鼠,以及4~5周龄昆明小鼠,同步系统检测其生物学特性,然后以统一的评价标准评价4种品系小鼠的寒、热体质。并对BALB/c小鼠给予参桂理中丸和利血平做药物反证。[结果]①4~5周龄昆明小鼠与8~9周龄昆明小鼠比较体质明显偏热;②BALB/c小鼠与C57BL/6J小鼠比较体质偏寒;③8~9周龄雄性BALB/c小鼠、雄性和雌性C57BL/6J小鼠与8~9周龄相应性别昆明小鼠比较体质无明显差异;8~9周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠与8~9周龄雌性昆明小鼠比较体质偏寒;④8~9周龄ICR小鼠与8~9周龄BALB/c小鼠、C57BL/6J小鼠比较体质偏热;8~9周龄雄性ICR小鼠与8~9周龄雄性昆明小鼠比较体质偏热。[结论]4种品系小鼠存在寒、热体质差异。     

降尿酸复方抗痛风的药效学和急性毒性研究

降尿酸复方抗高尿酸血症的疗效研究并评价其在临床用药上的安全性。对实验动物使用氧嗪酸钾灌胃造模,用热板和化学刺激法来衡量药物的镇痛作用,用小鼠耳肿胀探讨抗炎效果,并解剖染色观察药物是否对主要脏器产生影响,临床用药安全性则采用更符合此研究实际情况的最大给药量实验来进行评价。结果表明此复方可明显降低模型大鼠血清中的尿素氮和尿酸的含量,不破坏主要脏器,且一定程度上减轻了高尿酸血症引发的肝、肾组织病变,还可以减少化学刺激痛模型小鼠的扭体次数,增加热板刺激痛实验中模型小鼠的痛阈值,明显地降低耳肿胀模型小鼠的耳肿胀度。因此降尿酸复方可以明显降低体内尿酸含量,具有抗炎镇痛作用,急性毒性实验表明复方安全无毒。     

3,5,2',4'-四羟基查尔酮对小鼠尿酸及尿酸合成相关酶基因的影响

用氧嗪酸钾诱导高尿酸血症动物模型,对化合物3,5,2',4'-四羟基查尔酮(P40)的降尿酸作用及尿酸合成相关酶基因进行研究。用磷钨酸法测定小鼠血清尿酸水平,用RT-PCR测定脑组织中次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶(HGPRT)、肝脏中的磷酸核糖焦磷酸合成酶(PRPS)和磷酸核糖焦磷酸酰胺转移酶(PRPPAT)mRNA的表达水平。结果表明:灌胃给予高尿酸血症小鼠P40 2、4、8 mg/kg和阳性对照药别嘌醇1 mg/kg,共给药5次,每天2次,均显著降低血清尿酸水平(P0.05,0.01),具有显著的降尿酸作用;但对HGPRT、PRPS、PRPPAT的mRNA表达水平无明显影响。     

番茄总皂苷对小鼠高尿酸血症的调节作用北大核心CSCD

为研究番茄总皂苷对尿酸的调节作用,该文以番茄水提物为试材,利用次黄嘌呤和氧嗪酸钾以及尿酸和氧嗪酸钾建立高尿酸模型小鼠,考察番茄总皂苷对正常小鼠及高尿酸血症小鼠尿酸排泄量、血尿酸、尿素氮、肌酐、黄嘌呤氧化酶以及脏器指数的影响。结果表明:番茄总皂苷不影响正常小鼠血尿酸水平,正常组及番茄低、中、高剂量组血尿酸值分别为(170.4±36.7)、(178.3±69.7)、(175.5±42.1)、(185.3±72.6)μmol·L^(-1);番茄总皂苷对次黄嘌呤和氧嗪酸钾联合诱导的高尿酸血症小鼠可以降低血尿酸水平,降低黄嘌呤氧化酶活性,正常组、模型组及番茄高剂量组血尿酸值分别为(140.4±36.7)、(378.3±69.7)、(278.3±62.6)μmol·L^(-1),正常组、模型组及番茄低、中、高剂量组黄嘌呤氧化酶值分别为(1.2±0.3)、(1.8±0.2)、(1.6±0.2)、(1.5±0.3)、(1.3±0.4)U·g^(-1) liver;对尿酸和氧嗪酸钾联合诱导的高尿酸血症小鼠,可降低血尿酸水平,降低黄嘌呤氧化酶活性,正常组、模型组及番茄高剂量组血尿酸值分别为(98.8±21.8)、(455.6±78.8)、(333.7±68.7)μmol·L^(-1),正常组、模型组及番茄高剂量组黄嘌呤氧化酶值分别为(2.1±0.3)、(2.5±0.2)、(2.3±0.2)U·g^(-1) liver。综上结果表明,番茄总皂苷不影响正常小鼠血尿酸水平,但能降低高尿酸模型小鼠的血尿酸水平,其机制可能与降低黄嘌呤氧化酶活性有关。     

不同品系小鼠在三种常见抑郁检测方法中的行为学表现

目的探讨4种不同品系小鼠在3种实验（空场实验、悬尾实验及强迫游泳实验）中的行为学差异,为抗抑郁新药研究中的实验动物选择提供参考。方法利用空场实验检测C57BL/6、BALB/c、ICR、和昆明小鼠的自主活动能力和对新奇环境的探索能力;利用悬尾实验和强迫游泳实验检测它们在应激刺激下的行为绝望状态。结果在空场实验中,BALB/c、ICR和昆明小鼠的运动总路程、运动速度和运动时间明显高于C57BL/6小鼠（P〈0.05）,ICR和昆明小鼠的直立次数也明显高于C57BL/6小鼠（P〈0.05）;悬尾实验C57BL/6小鼠的不动时间显著长于其他3种品系小鼠（P〈0.05）,但是4种品系小鼠在强迫游泳实验中的不动时间差异无显著性。结论 C57BL/6小鼠自发活动量低,对新奇环境的探索能力差,并且在急性应激刺激下容易造成行为绝望,因此C57BL/6小鼠可能适合作为急性应激抑郁模型动物。     

水迷宫实验中三种品系小鼠学习记忆能力的比较

目的探讨三种品系小鼠在Morris水迷宫实验中的学习记忆能力差异,为与改善学习记忆能力相关新药研究的实验动物选择提供参考。方法选用C57BL/6小鼠、昆明种小鼠和ICR小鼠,进行定位航行实验(5d)、空间搜索实验(1d)和工作记忆实验(4d),考察其学习记忆能力。结果定位航行实验从第3天起C57BL/6小鼠的潜伏期明显小于昆明种小鼠和ICR小鼠(P0.01);空间搜索实验C57BL/6小鼠穿过原平台位置的次数、在原平台象限游程比率和时间比率均明显多于昆明种小鼠和ICR小鼠(P0.05);动物每天工作记忆实验的潜伏期随测试次数增加而缩短,C57BL/6小鼠缩短的较昆明种小鼠和ICR小鼠稍多。结论C57BL/6小鼠的空间参考记忆能力与工作记忆能力均优于昆明种小鼠和ICR小鼠,且非空间因素对其学习记忆能力的评价干扰较小,可作为优先选择的水迷宫实验动物。     

一种高尿酸血症大鼠模型诱导方法的改良和效果评价研究

目的: 探索短期内诱导高尿酸血症大鼠模型的有效方法,并对模型效果进行评价。方法: 雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组(CT组,6只)和5个模型组(M1-M5组),每组8只;M1组(每天酵母膏10 g/kg+腺嘌呤100 mg/kg 2次灌胃,于模型诱导的第7日1次性腹腔注射氧嗪酸钾300 mg/kg)、M2组(每天酵母膏10 g/kg+腺嘌呤100 mg/kg灌胃2次,于模型诱导第1、3、7日每天腹腔注射1次氧嗪酸钾300 mg/kg)、M3组(每天酵母膏10 g/kg+腺嘌呤100 mg/kg灌胃 2次,每天腹腔注射1次氧嗪酸钾300 mg/kg)、M4组(每天酵母膏20 g/kg+腺嘌呤100 mg/kg灌胃 2次,每天腹腔注射1次氧嗪酸钾300 mg/kg)、M5组(每天酵母膏30 g/kg+腺嘌呤100 mg/kg灌胃2次,每天腹腔注射1次氧嗪酸钾300 mg/kg)、CT组(5个模型组按相同的时间、体重计算等体积灌胃和腹腔注射生理盐水),造模7 d;分别在造模结束时和2周后采集24 h尿样和血样检测尿酸、肌酐水平,取肾脏和胃称重,观察肾脏病理变化。结果: 与CT组相比,造模结束后,所有模型组大鼠体重均显著降低(P＜0.01);除M2组外,其他造模组大鼠均有亡,M4组和M5组因死亡率高未做后续分析,M1和M3组分别死亡4例和2例;造模结束后,模型大鼠血尿酸、尿尿酸水平明显升高(P＜0.01),并且M2组的血尿酸水平显著高于其他各组(P＜0.05);继续喂养2周后,各模型组的血尿酸和尿尿酸水平仍显著升高(P＜0.05);各模型组大鼠肾脏重量也明显增加(P＜0.01);病理检查显示,模型组大鼠肾脏出现明显炎症反应和结构破坏。结论: 采用酵母膏(10 g/kg)、腺嘌呤(100 mg/kg)联合氧嗪酸钾(300 mg/kg)间隔(第1、3、7日)注射的方案可在短期内安全地诱导高尿酸血症大鼠模型,模型效果持续时间较长,适合在相关研究中应用。     

蕨菜乙醇提取物降尿酸作用机理及肾保护作用研究北大核心CSCD

为研究蕨菜乙醇提取物降尿酸作用机理及其肾保护作用,将蕨菜乙醇提取物灌胃模型小鼠1周,于给药第3 d,氧嗪酸钾灌胃复制高尿酸血症小鼠模型,检测血清尿酸水平、血及肝脏黄嘌呤氧化酶活性,探讨其治疗高尿酸血症作用机理;蕨菜乙醇提取物灌胃模型小鼠1周,检测血Cr与BNU、肾组织NO与ET水平、肾组织形态学,考察其肾保护作用。结果发现蕨菜乙醇提取物可显著降低小鼠血清尿酸水平,对小鼠血及肝脏黄嘌呤氧化酶活性无显著影响,显著降低血Cr、血BNU、肾组织ET水平,升高肾组织NO水平,肾组织形态学正常。结果表明蕨菜乙醇提取物具有降尿酸及肾保护作用,其降尿酸作用机制不在影响黄嘌呤氧化酶活性,确切的作用机制还有待于进一步研究。     

博来霉素诱导G57BL/6与ICR小鼠肺间质纤维化模型的比较

目的探讨C57BL/6与ICR小鼠在博来霉素(BLM)致肺纤维化过程中的种属差异。方法 8周龄雌性C57BL/6小鼠19只,ICR小鼠16只,分别经尾静脉一次性注射BLM150mg/kg,观察每组小鼠体重、生存率及肺组织病理改变。结果①C57BL/6与ICR小鼠最低体重分别发生在静脉注射处置后的7d和5d,最低体重分别为注射前的65.46%和73.21%,两组间无显著的统计学差异。②C57BL/6与ICR小鼠的生存率分别为36.84%和56.25%,两组间存在显著的统计学差异。③C57BL/6小鼠BLM注射后28d,在胸膜下及血管周围形成广泛、稳定的间质纤维化病理改变,而ICR小鼠肺组织未见明显纤维化形成。C57BL/6小鼠肺纤维化病理评分明显高于ICR小鼠(P0.001)。结论 BLM诱导的肺纤维化作用在C57BL/6与ICR小鼠间存在着明显的种属差异。C57BL/6小鼠较ICR小鼠更适于复制博来霉素诱导的肺纤维化动物模型。     

苯肼致小鼠溶血性贫血模型的建立

目的:应用苯肼致小鼠发生溶血性贫血,建立急性溶血性贫血模型,筛选苯肼致小鼠贫血最佳浓度和红细胞移植的最佳时机。方法:30只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为6组,经腹腔注射不同浓度的苯肼溶液,于注射前和注射后第1、3、5、7、9天采集小鼠外周血进行检测,记录相关指标的变化,比较各组之间的差异,筛选出最佳溶血效果的给药浓度和红细胞移植治疗介入的时机。结果:注射苯肼溶液可使C57BL/6小鼠短期内产生明显的急性溶血性贫血症状,皮肤黏膜颜色苍白;外周血红细胞数量、血红蛋白含量、红细胞压积降低;随着苯肼溶液浓度的增加,小鼠体重显著减轻,存活率下降。结果表明,苯肼注射小鼠致贫血的最佳作用浓度为1.2mg/10g体重,小鼠贫血状态可维持7d。结论:建立了小鼠溶血性贫血模型,此模型可应用于红细胞输注效果的评价。     

不同品系小鼠对实验感染念珠状链杆菌敏感性的观察

本文通过念珠状链杆菌（Ｓｔｒｅｐｔｏｂａｃｉｌｕｓｍｏｎｉｌｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ,Ｓ．ｍ．）实验感染昆明、Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ、ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ、ＩＣＲ、ＮＩＨ、ＤＢＡ共６个品系小鼠,观察其对Ｓ．ｍ．敏感性的差异。其中昆明、Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ两个品系在腹腔接种后表现出明显的临床、病理改变。昆明小鼠发病率和死亡率分别为９２％和８０％;Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ分别是８０％和１２％。昆明小鼠较之Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ小鼠起病急、病情严重,多数动物死于感染的急性期。其余品系的发病率为：ＮＩＨ８％、ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ和ＤＢＡ４％,没有动物死亡;ＩＣＲ在接种后无任何临床病理改变。在实验感染后临床病理改变方面,昆明小鼠和Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ小鼠间有较大不同。昆明小鼠以末梢血管淤血、四肢尾部水肿、关节炎、截瘫、腹泻为主,而Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ小鼠则以注射部位和其它部位皮下脓肿、化脓性关节炎为主。本研究提示,中国昆明小鼠对Ｓ．ｍ．敏感性最高,可以将其作为“哨兵动物”用于实验大鼠Ｓ．ｍ．的常规监测;不同品系小鼠不仅对实验感染Ｓ．ｍ．的敏感性不同,而且表现出不同的临床病理改变。     

C57BL/6J小鼠在构建2型糖尿病模型中体重和非空腹血糖浓度的异常变化

由北京市一实验动物生产单位购入近交系C57BL/6J(B6)和封闭群ICR(3周龄)小鼠,分别以高脂饲料、高脂饲料-3%果糖饮水(实验组)和常规饲料(对照组)喂养6周,实验组腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ,100mg/kg体重),然后以相应饲料继续喂养4周。每周测定小鼠体重,于注射STZ前和注射后每周测定非空腹血糖浓度。研究显示,无论是否补充果糖饮水,B6对照组体重显著高于实验组,而相应周龄的ICR小鼠,实验组体重显著高于对照组。两品系小鼠实验组间体重无差异。注射STZ后,B6实验组血糖浓度均没有达到糖尿病小鼠非空腹血糖浓度的成模标准(11mmol/L),而ICR实验组血糖浓度均达到并超过糖尿病小鼠非空腹血糖浓度的成模标准。研究表明,无论补充果糖与否,ICR小鼠均能成功建模,而B6小鼠建模均失败。因此,ICR小鼠仍是目前应用高脂饲料-STZ联合诱导2型糖尿病模型中经济、有效的候选动物,而B6小鼠在体重和血糖浓度上的异常表现很可能是其遗传背景变化的结果,这尚需进一步研究证实。     

Comparison of urethane-induced sister-chromatid exchanges in various murine strains, and the effect of enzyme inducers

The induction of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) by urethane, 150 and 300 mg/kg administered i.p., was examined in bone-marrow cells of AKR, BALB/c, C3Hf, C57BL/6J and DBA/2 male mice. In all strains, the base-line level of SCE/cell was similar, ranging from 4.3 to 8.7, and the response increased with the dose of urethane. DBA/2 mice were the most susceptible to urethane at both dose levels, with 30.6 SCE/cell after treatment with 300 mg/kg, whereas the response of the other strains was from 17.4 to 21.5 SCE/cell at the same urethane dose. Pretreatment of C57BL/6J and DBA/2 mice with phenobarbital decreased the SCE frequencies induced by urethane, 300 mg/kg, to 70%, whereas a prior administration of beta-naphthoflavone reduced SCE levels in C57BL/6J but not in DBA/2 mice.     

Effect of Different Gentamicin Dose on the Plasticity of the Ribbon Synapses in Cochlear Inner Hair Cells of C57BL/6J Mice

Faithful information transfer at the hair cell afferent synapse requires synaptic transmission to be both reliable and temporally precise. The release of neurotransmitter must exhibit both rapid on and off kinetics to accurately follow acoustic stimuli with a periodicity of 1?ms or less. To ensure such remarkable temporal fidelity, the cochlear hair cell afferent synapse undoubtedly relies on unique cellular and molecular specializations. To study effects of different doses of gentamicin on the changes of synaptic ribbons of cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) in mice, the availability of genetic information, transgenic and knock-out animals make the C57BL/6J mouse a primary model in biomedical research. Aminoglycoside ototoxicity, however, has rarely been studied in mature mice because they are considered highly resistant to the drugs. This study presents models for gentamicin ototoxicity in adult C57BL/6J mouse strains. Five-week-old mice were injected intraperitoneally once daily with 50?C300?mg gentamicin base/kg body weight for 7?days. Higher doses of gentamicin appear to be associated with earlier hearing damage in C57BL/6J mice, although not necessarily with more severe damage. At 200?mg/kg, gentamicin appears to induce significant hearing damage while not significantly affect the animal??s general condition. Therefore, 200?mg/kg may be an ideal dose for ototoxicity modeling in C57BL/6J mice using gentamicin. In the early period of different dose of gentamicin effect, when the number of hair cells had not changed, the number changes of IHC ribbon synapses had taken place. Through the number of ribbon synapses changing, IHCs increased or decreased connections with spiral ganglion nerves (SGNs). The ribbon synapses played a compensatory role for gentamicin ototoxicity, while this effect was not sufficient to maintain the normal threshold of hearing.     

Time-response and dose-response to acetazolamide in the WB/ReJ and C57BL/6J mouse strains: genetic interaction in the ectrodactyly response

The WB/ReJ and C57BL/6J strains were compared in their time and dose responses to acetazolamide administered in a single subcutaneous injection regime. WB/ReJ has a genetically determined, high-frequency, transient fetal edema that has maximum expression on day 14 and is resolved by day 18. Acetazolamide, at 1,000 mg/kg, appears to induce edema in WB/ReJ with a time of response on days 9 and 10, and the induced edema follows the same time course of appearance and disappearance as the spontaneous trait. The dose-response analysis is not interpretable in the WB/ReJ and C57BL/6J strains and their reciprocal F1 fetuses because there was significant response only at the highest dose (2,000 mg/kg) used in this study. The time of ectrodactyly response is maximal on day 9 in both WB/ReJ and C57BL/6J strains. The dose-response analysis demonstrates that, for the usual measure of total fetuses with ectrodactyly (or penetrance), the Wb/ReJ and C57BL/6J strains and the WB/ReJ x C57BL/6J F1 (WB.B6F1) have the same slope of the dose-response curve and the strain difference in response can be interpreted as a difference in dosage tolerance. The tolerance of WB/ReJ is twofold greater than that of C57BL/6J. This overdominance of relative resistance to acetazolamide ectrodactyly supports the general finding of directional dominance of relative resistance among genetically different strain pairs. The median effective dose for penetrance of the ectrodactyly response of the reciprocal B6.WBF1 embryo is similar to the WB.B6F1, but the slope of the dose-response curve is significantly different, and a different teratogenic mechanism of response may be involved. Ectrodactyly was predominantly right sided in all genotypes, and, in bilaterally affected fetuses, the right forelimb was more severely affected. An unexpected difference between WB/ReJ and C57BL/6J was found when the laterality of ectrodactyly was analyzed further. There is a significant increase with dosage in bilaterally affected fetuses (a measure of expressivity) in C57BL/6J but not in WB/ReJ, even though the dose-response of total affected fetuses (penetrance) is similar in both strains. In C57BL/6J, the left and right forelimbs are correlated in their responses with the left, requiring approximately a threefold greater dose. The left and right forelimbs are symmetrical in response, and the difference can be interpreted in terms of a developmental (or teratogenic) gradient. In WB/ReJ, the right forelimb has the same dose response as C57BL/6J and requires a twofold greater dose than the right forelimb of C57BL/6J, but the left forelimb has a very flat slope and is not correlated with the response of the right.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

百草枯对小鼠神经行为发育及学习记忆功能的影响

目的观察百草枯(PQ)对发育期C57BL/6J小鼠神经发育的毒性作用,并探讨百草枯对小鼠学习记忆的影响。方法 80只出生21日龄的仔鼠分为对照组(生理盐水)、1.25、2.5、5、10 mg/(kg·d)五组,灌胃染毒百草枯,每天一次,连续30 d。观察小鼠的一般生理和神经行为发育情况,并在染毒结束后进行Morris水迷宫实验和避暗实验,测试小鼠的学习记忆功能。神经行为学测试结束后取小鼠大脑,称重并进行病理检查,同时利用透射电镜观察各组小鼠中脑黑质部超微结构。结果染毒期间小鼠一般状况没有明显变化,染毒结束后各组体重没有统计学差异;在Morris水迷宫测试中,各组差异没有统计学意义,而避暗实验中与对照组相比,高剂量组的避暗潜伏期延长,差异有显著性(P<0.05);在病理切片和透射电镜观察中,在高剂量组分别观察到黑质细胞减少和神经元细胞凋亡。结论百草枯暴露对发育期小鼠成年后神经行为有影响,同时会使小鼠成年后出现脑组织的病理变化,发生器质性的病变。     

Immune responses of different mouse strains after challenge with equivalent lethal doses of Toxoplasma gondii

Most immunological studies that utilize different strains of inbred mice following T. gondii infection fail to compensate for differences in host susceptibility to the size of the parasite innoculum. To address this concern, susceptible C57BL/6 and resistant CBA/J mice were orally infected with either an equivalent 50% lethal dose (LD50) of brain cysts of the 76K strain of T. gondii (15 cysts in C57BL/6, 400 cysts in CBA/J) or the same dose of parasites in each mouse strain. C57BL/6 mice receiving 400 cysts (LD50 of CBA/J mice) died post infection, whereas CBA/J mice that received 15 cysts (LD50 of C57BL/6 mice) survived. Parasite loads in the brains and serum Toxoplasma-specific IgG1 titers of LD50-infected C57BL/6 mice were significantly higher than those in LD50- or 15 cysts-infected CBA/J mice, whereas splenocyte proliferation to Toxoplasma antigen and the percentage of CD8 alpha+ T cells were reduced in LD50-infected C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, serum IgG2a and IgM titers, the percentage of gamma delta T cells and IFN-gamma expression of spleen of LD50-infected CBA/J mice were higher than those of either 15 cysts-infected CBA/J mice or LD50-infected C57BL/6 mice. These observations demonstrate that the immune response between LD50-infected C57BL/6 and CBA/J mice was more prominent when compared to C57BL/6 or CBA/J mice receiving the same parasite inoculum. These observations would suggest that caution must be excersized in the planning and interpretation of data when the size of the parasite inoculum has not been adjusted for mouse strain.