Identification and genetic monitoring of mouse inbred strains using biochemical polymorphisms.

53 inbred strains and substrains of mice from 3 institutes in The Netherlands were examined at 12 chromosome loci coding body protein-polymorphism Es-1, Es-2, Es-3, Es-5, Gpi-1, Hbb, Id-1, Ldr-1, Mpi-1, Mup-1, Pgm-1, Trf). The allelic variation at 7 loci could be detected simultaneously. Within each institute most strains showed a unique combination of alleles at the 12 loci involved. Some nominally similar (sub)strains showed allelic divergence. One strain showed allelic variation at 4 loci. These findings emphasize the possibility and the necessity of monitoring the genetic purity of inbred strains of mice. A routine monitoring scheme using body protein-polymorphisms is proposed.