Jiayuan M-5 Group-Housing Cage System for Mice and Rats

Overview

The Jiayuan M-5 Group-Housing Cage System is an ISO-compliant, ventilated laboratory animal housing solution engineered for simultaneous housing of mice and rats under standardized vivarium conditions. Designed in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC, 2011), the M-5 system supports group-housing protocols while maintaining environmental control, structural integrity, and ease of sanitation. Its modular architecture integrates seamlessly with standard rack systems—including T-type, flat-panel, and flush-mount configurations—and complies with IACUC-specified floor space requirements per animal (e.g., ≥ 60 cm² per mouse, ≥ 100 cm² per rat). The cage operates on passive ventilation principles, relying on natural air exchange across the 304 stainless steel wire lid to ensure adequate O₂/CO₂ balance without mechanical airflow interference—critical for behavioral and physiological consistency in longitudinal studies.

Key Features

• Dimensions optimized for dual-species compatibility: 475 × 350 × 200 mm internal volume accommodates up to 5 adult mice or 2–3 adult rats per cage, satisfying NIH and AAALAC space guidelines.
• Chemically resistant polypropylene (PP) housing box rated for repeated autoclaving at 121°C, 15 psi for ≥ 500 cycles without warping or leaching.
• 304 stainless steel wire lid with 12.7 mm mesh spacing ensures secure containment while permitting unobstructed visual monitoring and uniform air distribution.
• Integrated 500 mL polycarbonate water bottle with stainless steel ball-valve sipper tube; leak-proof design validated under static pressure testing (≥ 0.5 bar).
• Modular footprint compatible with Jiayuan’s full line of rack systems—including 70-cage T-type racks (CP-3/70, M-1/70), 16-cage dry-housing racks (A-type, R-1/16), and flush-mount platforms (PG-5/5)—enabling scalable colony management.
• Optional bottomless configuration (M-5 Bottomless) includes a removable 304 stainless steel waste tray for metabolic studies, urine collection, or gnotobiotic applications requiring strict barrier control.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The M-5 cage system is validated for use with outbred (e.g., Sprague-Dawley, CD-1), inbred (e.g., C57BL/6, BALB/c), and immunocompromised strains (e.g., nude, SCID) under SPF (Specific Pathogen-Free) and conventional housing classifications. All materials meet USP Class VI biocompatibility standards and are free of detectable endotoxins (< 0.5 EU/mL via LAL assay). Cage construction adheres to ISO 55000 asset management principles for lifecycle traceability and conforms to GLP Annex 11 requirements for equipment qualification documentation. Rack integration supports automated watering systems compliant with ASTM F2149-22 (Standard Specification for Rodent Caging Systems), and cage dimensions align with ICH S5(R3) reproductive toxicity study housing specifications.

Software & Data Management

While the M-5 is a hardware-only housing platform, its standardized form factor enables interoperability with third-party colony management software (e.g., LabVantage, Provantis, Scion) via barcode-labeled cage identifiers. Each PP cage box features a laser-etched alphanumeric serial number for audit-ready tracking across cleaning cycles, sterilization logs, and animal assignment records. When deployed in automated vivaria equipped with RFID-enabled rack sensors, the M-5 supports real-time occupancy monitoring, temperature/humidity logging (via integrated rack-mounted probes), and predictive maintenance scheduling—all compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record requirements when paired with validated software infrastructure.

Applications

• Long-term toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies requiring stable group-housing conditions over 28+ day dosing regimens.
• Behavioral phenotyping assays (e.g., open field, social interaction) where consistent cage geometry minimizes confounding spatial variables.
• Reproductive performance assessment using the M-5 Bottomless variant with waste trays for non-invasive fecal corticosterone and urinary metabolite collection.
• Vaccinology and infectious disease research under SPF conditions, leveraging the cage’s autoclavable components and smooth-welded stainless steel joints to prevent pathogen entrapment.
• Preclinical oncology models involving tumor-bearing rodents, where the 200 mm vertical clearance permits unrestricted mobility and nesting behavior critical for welfare scoring.

FAQ

Is the M-5 cage suitable for use in individually ventilated cage (IVC) systems?
Yes—the M-5’s lid geometry and PP material compatibility have been verified for integration with major IVC platforms (e.g., Tecniplast GreenLine, Allentown A-System) when used with certified adapter frames.

What cleaning validation data are available for the PP cage boxes?
Jiayuan provides full cleaning validation reports per ISO 14644-1 cleanroom protocols, including residue testing (HPLC for drug carryover) and microbial challenge studies (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa) confirming ≤ 1 CFU per cage post-autoclave.

Can the M-5 be used for breeding pairs or trios?
The M-5 is not recommended for active breeding due to its open-top design; for reproduction studies, Jiayuan recommends the dedicated PP-4 or CP-4 breeding cages with solid lids and nesting material retention features.

Does the stainless steel lid meet ASTM F899 corrosion resistance standards?
Yes—304 stainless steel components undergo ASTM A967 passivation and salt-spray testing (ASTM B117, 96 h) with zero red rust formation.

Are replacement parts (e.g., bottles, lids, trays) available separately?
All components are sold as individual SKUs with serialized lot traceability; spare parts inventory is maintained for ≥ 10 years post-product discontinuation per ISO 13485 medical device quality system requirements.