Survey on spontaneous systemic amyloidosis in aging mice.

The incidence of systemic amyloidosis in CD-1 mice (Charles River, caesarian derived) obtained from long term studies over more than a 15-year period is reported. The survey included samples of visceral organs, peripheral and central nervous tissues, bone and bone marrow. The total incidence in all mice of this survey did not show any clear evidence of a difference between males and females. Amyloidosis deposits were mainly seen in the stomach (glandular), heart, small intestines, kidney, liver, spleen, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, salivary glands and ovaries, but not in the brain, spinal cord, bone or bone marrow. The survey showed that amyloidosis in CD-1 mice was spontaneous, systemic and it is age-related. Amyloid deposition was extracellular and it stained positively with Congo Red and also stained positively with Oil Red O and Alcian blue. In general, amyloidosis in CD-1 mice, was higher in comparison with B6C3F (cross between C57BL/C6 NCRLB and C3H/HEN NCRLB, (bred by Charles River), CFLP strain (hysterectomy derived strain of Swiss origin) and MAGF: TIF (SPF). This survey also showed that spontaneous systemic amyloidosis in CD-1 mice, was one of the major factors contributory to death in aging CD-1 mice.