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Hedrich, H., (ed.), The Laboratory Mouse, 656 pp. Elsevier Academic Press, New York, 2004. $199.95. ISBN 0-12-336425-6.

This installment of the Handbook of Experimental Animals series attempts to give "the user quick access to any point of interest on the mouse as an experimental model" and is intended for biological, veterinary, and medical researchers. It falls well short of this ambitious goal but is still a good reference on a broad range of mouse-related topics. Beyond a few chapters on topics normally considered as within our field, veterinary pathologists may frequently refer to the clear and accessible discussions on topics outside of our specific areas of expertise, such as taxonomy and phylogenetics of laboratory mice, animal husbandry and production, health monitoring, in vivo procedures, and assisted reproduction and cryopreservation. With about two thirds of the 60 authors from Europe, most of the others being from the USA and a few from Japan, the book also benefits from a broader perspective than is often seen in texts authored wholly from North America, evident particularly with discussions of regulatory issues, housing, and stress.

The chapter on gross anatomy, although only using Latin terminology, will be a useful reference for those lacking the standard texts from which the excellent line drawings were taken. The histology chapter is also good, but tissues are arranged alphabetically instead of by organ system, making it more difficult to use, and the accompanying black and white photomicrographs are somewhat indistinct due to lack of sufficient contrast. Within the section on Pathophysiology (Including Non-Infectious Diseases), only the chapter on the respiratory system discusses common tumors and nonneo-plastic conditions. Chapters on the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems make no mention of any diseases. Other entire organ systems, including reproductive and neurologic systems, are omitted. Deserving of special mention is the excellent discussion of variables and techniques in the chapter on "Hematology of the Mouse," by Dr. Everds.

A general bias of the book to inbred mice is evident in the chapter "Diversity of Spontaneous Neoplasms in Commonly Used Inbred Strains and Stocks of Laboratory Mice," the only chapter except the "Respiratory System" to discuss tumors. As implied by the title, this chapter excludes outbred and hybrid mice. Data, some of which are 30 years old, are presented only for a limited number of neoplasms in common inbred strains. Although the use of outbred mice in biomedical research may equal or exceed that of inbred or hybrid mice, outbred mice are also omitted or only given brief mention in chapters on the origin and history of laboratory mice and on various strains and stocks. An additional omission in the book is any discussion of immunodeficient mice in oncology xenograft research, although hundreds of thousands are used every year.

The section on "Infectious Diseases and Agents" contains only one chapter, on viral infections, and is probably the most current and comprehensive discussion of mouse viral diseases in publication today. However, omitting bacterial and parasitic disease greatly underplays their current importance. For example, infection with Helicobacter spp. is one of the most prevalent conditions of mice. Parasitic diseases also remain prevalent, as are pneumocystosis and opportunistic bacterial infections in immunodeficient mice. The "Necropsy Methods" chapter focuses on biological characterization of a new mutation and gives an excellent, detailed description of a thorough necropsy, albeit with some unusual emphasis on skin defects. Unfortunately, no emphasis is placed on the requirement for a highly trained prosector or the involvement of a properly trained veterinary pathologist, nor is there sufficient discussion of record keeping.

Overall, the book is recommended for pathologists working in genomics research and for departmental-level libraries.

Dr. C. B. Clifford

Charles River Laboratories
Wilmington, MA

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