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BALB/c mice

Jiangsu Aniphe BioLab, leveraging a high‑standard laboratory animal platform, offers a long‑term, stable supply of readily available BALB/c mice. As a classic inbred strain widely used in immunology research, tumor model development, and monoclonal antibody production, our mouse colonies boast a pure genetic background, consistent immune response profiles, and exceptional health. With ample in‑stock inventory and a rapid response system, we can promptly meet your research and drug‑screening needs, ensuring high reproducibility and rigorous experimental data.

Strain Introduction

BALB/c is one of the most widely used inbred mouse strains worldwide, renowned for its distinctive immune response bias, high incidence of spontaneous myeloma, and excellent hybridoma compatibility. This strain maintains a highly consistent genetic background (H-2ᵈ haplotype) and occupies an indispensable foundational role in the fields of monoclonal antibody production, oncology, infectious diseases, and immunotoxicology.

Product Advantages

Classic background strains in immunology research

Carrying the H-2ᵈ haplotype, this strain exhibits a natural Th2‑biased immune response; it is complementary to the Th1‑biased C57BL/6 strain and is well suited for studies on vaccines, allergic diseases, Leishmania infections, and the pathogenic mechanisms associated with IL‑4, IL‑5, and IL‑13.

A wealth of syngeneic tumor model resources is available.

Inducible spontaneous plasmacytoma models are used in multiple myeloma research; they are compatible with syngeneic tumor cell lines such as CT26 and 4T1, with host–tumor genetic backgrounds that are well matched, making them suitable for evaluating cancer immunotherapies.

High genetic homogeneity and excellent experimental reproducibility.

After more than 150 generations of inbreeding, the individuals exhibit high genetic homogeneity; inter‑batch variability in immune responses, tumorigenicity, and drug responsiveness is minimal, and comprehensive genomic data are available, supporting both gene editing and studies of genetic loci.

Comprehensive behavioral and physiological data

It exhibits a prominent anxiety phenotype and is frequently employed in behavioral studies related to emotion and stress; its well‑established physiological baseline database makes it well suited for drug toxicity and safety assessments.

 

Data parameters

Strain Name BALB/cJ or BALB/cByJ (commonly used sub-strain)
Targeted gene No specific target gene (wild-type inbred strain)
Mutant site No artificially introduced mutation sites
Types of gene editing Not applicable (classic inbred strain, non‑gene‑edited strain)
Genetic background BALB/c inbred strain (F > 150)
Microbial Grade SPF grade
Available by week of age 3–8 weeks (please consult your regional sales representative if you need to order neonatal rats)

Application areas

● Monoclonal antibody preparation: The ascites induction system has been optimized, enabling the efficient production of hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibodies. 
● Tumor Immunology: A comprehensive panel of syngeneic tumor models is available, with a fully intact immune system; the 4T1 model can recapitulate metastatic breast cancer. 
● Allergic diseases: Easily establishes asthma and atopic dermatitis models, suitable for screening drugs targeting the Th2 pathway. 
● Infectious Immunity: Various infection models involving parasites, bacteria, and viruses, used for vaccine and anti-infective research. 
● Toxicological Evaluation: Baseline data are comprehensive, supporting a wide range of compliance‑related local, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicity studies. 
● Behavioral Neuroscience: High-anxiety phenotype, used in behavioral studies related to emotion, stress, and social interaction.

Breeding Techniques and Precautions

Strictly control inbreeding systems to mitigate genetic divergence.

Strictly control the inbreeding system. 
Avoiding genetic differences

Standard inbred breeding is employed to eliminate random mating and thereby prevent genetic drift; experimental protocols must use a defined mouse strain, with strict prohibition of mixing different strains, to ensure a uniform and stable genetic background.

Strictly control environmental stimuli to reduce experimental stress.

Strictly control environmental stimuli. 
Reduce experimental stress

This strain is sensitive to noise and odors and prone to stress. The housing environment should be free of high-frequency noise and ultrasonic devices, and experimental procedures should be conducted gently; the use of fragranced disinfectants is prohibited to minimize stress‑inducing disturbances.

Standardize breeding management to improve the survival rate of pups.

Standardize breeding management 
Improve the survival rate of neonatal mice

Select female mice aged 7–9 weeks with a body weight of ≥18 g for mating, and separate them into individual cages upon the appearance of a vaginal plug. During lactation, supplement their diet with high‑protein feed and soft nesting material to maintain breeding efficiency and improve pup survival.

Monitor age-related spontaneous lesions and eliminate experimental confounding.

Monitoring age-related spontaneous lesions 
Eliminate experimental interference   

Aged mice are prone to spontaneous tumors and organ lesions. In aging studies, regular health screenings are required, and retired breeder mice may be included in the study only after passing a thorough evaluation to ensure they are free from background pathologies that could confound the experimental results.

Literature support

Scientific publications based on this model, as cited by Aniphe customers, are supported for SCI‑indexed publication. (Original paper link)  
1.ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2025 Mar 19;17(11):16681-16695 
An Oxidative Stress Nanoamplifier with Efficient Non-Fenton-Type Hydroxyl Radical Generation and Sulfur Dioxide Release for Synergistic Treatment of Tumor. 
2.Int Immunopharmacol 2025 Mar 06;149:114108 
Peimine inhibits cell proliferation and migration of breast cancer via regulating the O-GlcNAcylation of USP41. 
3.Iran. J. Biotechnol. January 2025;23(1): e4034 
NNT-AS1 with Therapeutic Promise in Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia via the Mir-410-3p/TMEM14A/Wnt/Β‑Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Q1: My BALB/c mice exhibit severe pruritus and scratch themselves to the point of skin lesions after drug administration. What could be the cause?

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A: This is commonly observed in intraperitoneal or subcutaneous immunization protocols that use aluminum adjuvants or certain oil-in-water emulsion adjuvants, and may also be induced by specific solvents (such as high‑concentration Tween‑80). BALB/c mice have thinner skin and relatively more active mast cells, making them prone to a histamine‑mediated itch–scratch cycle. It is recommended to switch to an adjuvant with lower allergenic potential, or to perform a preliminary local skin sensitization test on 1–2 mice before adopting the new formulation.

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Q2: How can obesity and metabolic abnormalities be prevented in BALB/c mice during long-term experiments?

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A: In adult BALB/c mice—particularly those housed individually with limited space—food intake tends to increase while physical activity decreases, leading to the accumulation of intra-abdominal fat. This can interfere with metabolism‑related pharmacodynamic and toxicological endpoints, such as hepatic steatosis. Mitigation strategies include using a low‑fat maintenance diet, providing running wheels or environmental enrichment, limiting the frequency of high‑fat supplemental gels, and regularly monitoring body weight as an exclusion criterion.

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Q3: Is BALB/c suitable for use as a PDX (patient-derived xenograft) model?

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A: That’s not appropriate. PDX models require the host to fully accept human‑derived tissues without rejection, whereas BALB/c mice possess a complete T‑cell and B‑cell immune system and will reject human‑origin tumors. Therefore, PDX studies must use immunodeficient mouse strains, such as BALB/c‑nude or NSG. BALB/c mice are suitable only for murine syngeneic tumor models or for applications—such as hybridoma production—that do not require an intact immune system.

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