title: Strain differences in autotomy in mice after peripheral nerve transection or repair.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal murine model for the study of peripheral nerve injury and nerve and limb transplantation. The degree of self-mutilation (autotomy) following sciatic and saphenous nerve injury was assessed in four mouse strains, Balb/C, C57BL/6J, C57BL/10J, and C3HEB, commonly used in surgical research. Experimental groups included sciatic and saphenous nerve transection with repair (n = 9) or without repair (n = 9), as well as housing arrangements favoring social interaction vs. isolation. Autotomy was most prevalent in the Balb/c and C3H strains at 56% and 89% overall, respectively, and was much less frequently seen in the C57Bl/10 and C57Bl/6 strains (22% and 11%, respectively). Autotomy was found to correlate most strongly with mouse strain, and with social contact as well. Two strains, C57BL/6J and C57BL/10J, were found to be highly resistant to self-mutilation, and are thus ideal animal models for peripheral-nerve and whole-limb transplant studies.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Roee E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Deem
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003714:Denervation; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000294:innervation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D012652:Self Mutilation; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D013997:Time Factors