Overview

Rats have been used as a model for humans for over 150 years. Rats were the original animal model with the use of mice becoming more prevalent due to the development of transgenic mice models.

Rats are however consistently more representative of humans compared to mice:

  • Being metabolically similar - better for pharmacokinetics studies
  • Having superior cognitive skills to mice – better for neurological disorders and behavioural studies
  • Being physically more similar – therefore better suited to toxicology, cardiovascular and immunology studies

And simply due to their larger size, rats are easier to handle and are better suited to transplantation research and repeat bleeds.

Now that the rat genome has been mapped and knock in and knock out transgenic rat strains are available the rat model may become used more widely.


Rat Facts

Below are a few interesting facts about lab rats:

  • Most laboratory rat strains are derived from the albino Wistar rat
  • The Sprague Dawley rat is used extensively in medical research in part because of its calmness and ease of handling, with a life span of 2-3 years
  • Rowett nudes are hairless rats that have no thymus
  • Zucker rats are used as a model for obesity and hypertension
  • The rat genome is 2.75 million base pairs long
  • Rats have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes, the same as humans
  • A 454 g rat has between 23 and 32 ml of blood
  • Rat heart rate is 330-480 beats per minute
  • Rat respiratory rate is 85 breaths per minute
  • The body temperature of a rat is 35.9-37.5ºC
  • Rats do not have gallbladders or tonsils
  • Rats cannot vomit

Immune Cell Frequencies

When designing your experiment it is important to consider the target cell frequency. The numbers of cells that need to be stained to collect a statistically relevant number of positive or negative cells need to be understood. This way you can avoid having to repeat the experiment simply due to the lack of statistical significance. Table 1 shows the relative frequency of cells in commonly used rat tissues. Go to our dedicated cell frequencies page for more detailed information.

Table 1. Rat immune cell frequencies.

Spleen Thymus Peripheral Blood

Cell Type

Percent

Cell Type

Percent

Cell Type

Percent

T cells

31.5-33.5

CD4+

5.7-9.4

T cells

51.5-66.5

CD4+

21.5-26.5

CD8+

2.3-6.9

CD4+

32-40

CD8+

14-18

CD4+/8+

83-87.6

CD8+

18-26

B cells

31.5-33.5

CD4-/8-

1.4-2.2

B cells

22.7-40.7

 

 

 

 

Monocytes

1-6

 

 

 

 

Neutrophils

14-20

 

 

 

 

Eosinophils

1-4

 

 

 

 

Basophils

Rare

 

 

 

 

γδ T cells

1-2

 

 

 

 

NK cells

6-10


Lineage Specific Rat Markers

Table 2 lists markers that can be used to determine different immune cell lineages.

Table 2. Rat lineage markers and antibodies.

Cell

Marker

Antibodies (catalog #)

Pan specific T cell

CD3

MCA772

Helper T cell

CD4

MCA55G

Cytotoxic T cell

CD8 alpha, CD8 beta

MCA48GMCA938GA

Thymocytes

CD90

MCA47G

Granulocytes

Pan specific

MCA967

Macrophages

CD11b, CD68, CD163, CD169

MCA275GMCA341GAMCA342GAMCA343GA

Dendritic cells

CD80, CD86

MCA2874

Endothelial cells

CD31, RECA-1

MCA1334GMCA970GA


Key Rat Markers

As rats can be used in many research areas, there are a large number of commonly used markers. Table 3 lists key markers to identify various cell types.

Table 3. Key rat markers to target cell or research area along with available antibodies.

Key Marker

Research Area / Target

Antibodies (catalog #)

CD3

T cells

MCA772

CD4

T cells and monocytes

MCA55G, MCA153GA, MCA372G, MCA1022R

CD8 alpha

T cells, NK cells and monocytes

MCA48G

CD11b

Macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, granulocytes

MCA275G, MCA619R, MCA618R

CD25

T cells and dendritic cells

MCA273GA

CD31

PECAM-1 expressed on endothelial cells, platelets and leucocytes

MCA1334G

CD43

Leucocytes except B cells

MCA54G

CD45

Leucocytes

MCA43G

CD45RA

B cells

MCA340G

CD68

Macrophages

MCA341GA

CD71

Proliferating cells of hematopoietic lineages

MCA155GA

CD86 (B7-2)

Antigen presenting cells especially dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells

MCA2874

CD90

Thymocytes, neuronal cells, stem cells and peripheral T cells

MCA47G, MCA04G

CD161

NK cells and T cell subpopulations

MCA1427

MHC Class I

All nucleated cells

MCA51G, MCA94R, MCA156

MHC Class II

B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and certain epithelial cells

MCA45G, MCA46G

IFN Gamma

Cytokine

MCA1301

TNF Alpha

Cytokine

AAR33

GSK3 Beta (pSer9)

Cell signaling

AHP1233

P38 MAPK (pThr180/pTyr182)

Cell signaling

AHP905

NMDAR Receptors

Neuroscience

6870-1109, AHP1235, AHP1004


Featured Key Markers CD44 and CD4

Mouse Anti-Rat CD44 Antibody, clone OX-50 recognizes the rat CD44 cell surface antigen, also known as Extracellular Matrix Receptor III. CD44 is a 482 amino acid ~85 kDa single pass type I transmembrane glycoprotein, expressed by T cells, B cells, macrophages and thymocytes. Mouse Anti-Rat CD4 (Domain 2) Antibody, clone OX-35 recognizes the rat CD4 cell surface antigen, a ~55kDa glycoprotein expressed by helper T cells and weakly by monocytes. Rat markers CD44 and CD4 have been used in flow cytometry (Figure 1), showing T cell, B cell and macrophage populations. Following this, CD4 has been used in immunohistochemistry showing T cells.

Fig. 1. Flow cytometry analysis of rat makers CD44 and CD4

Fig. 1. Flow cytometry analysis of rat makers CD44 and CD4. A, A647 conjugated Mouse Anti-Rat CD4 (MCA153A647) and RPE conjugated Mouse IgG2a Isotype Control (MCA1210PE). B, A647 conjugated Mouse Anti-Rat CD4 (MCA153A647) and RPE conjugated Mouse Anti-Rat CD44 (MCA643PE). All experiments performed on red cell lysed rat blood gated on mononuclear cells.

Fig. 2. Immunohistochemistry analysis of rat marker CD4

Fig. 2. Immunohistochemistry analysis of rat marker CD4. CD4+ T cells clustering around central arteriole in the white pulp of rat spleen (cryosection) stained with MCA153.


Anti-Rat Antibodies and Related Products

Bio-Rad has an extensive range of rat monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies guaranteed for use in applications such as flow cytometry, western blotting, immunoprecipitation, IHC and, ELISA. These antibodies are available in various formats, however if you can’t find the format you need, you can also choose from a range of easy-to-use conjugation kits.

These anti-rat antibodies are targeted against markers for study in various research areas specifically immunology, pathology, toxicology, neurology and transplantation.

The following types of antibody are available:

Types of antibody that are available

ED Clone Antibodies
 

Bio-Rad has one the most comprehensive range of ED clone anti-rat antibodies primarily for the study of macrophage subtypes but also other related molecules.

Table 4. ED clone anti-rat antibodies, marker and cell type.

Clone

Target

Marker

Antibody (catalog #)

Applications

ED1

Macrophages

CD68

MCA341GA

FC, IF/ICC, IHC-F, IHC-P, IP, WB

ED2

Macrophages

CD163

MCA342GA

FC, IF/ICC, IHC-F, IHC-P, IP, WB

ED3

Macrophages

CD169

MCA343GA

FC, IF/ICC, IHC-F, IP

ED7

Macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, granulocytes

CD11b

MCA618R

FC, FN, IHC-F

ED8

Macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, granulocytes

CD11b

MCA619R

FC, IHC-F

ED9

Myeloid cells, neurons

CD172a (SIRP)

MCA620R

FC, IHC-F, IP, WB

Abbreviations: E, ELISA; FC, flow cytometry; IF/ICC, immunofluorescence/immunocytochemistry; IHC-F, immunohistochemistry-frozen; IHC-P, immunohistochemistry-paraffin; IP, immunoprecipitation; WB, western blotting.



Featured ED Clone Antibody CD11b

Mouse Anti-Rat CD11b Antibody, clone ED8 recognizes a membrane antigen on rat macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells and granulocytes. It also recognizes small ramified microglia in the central nervous system.  Mouse Anti-Rat CD106 Antibody, clone MR106 specifically recognizes rat CD106, otherwise known as VCAM-1 (vascular adhesion molecule 1), an 110kDa inducible type I transmembrane glycoprotein. It is predominantly expressed on vascular endothelium, and also on bone marrow stromal cells, follicular dendritic cells and some macrophages. Rat markers CD11b and CD106 have been used in flow cytometry (Figure 3), showing myeloid cell populations. In Figure 4 immunofluorescence staining of CD11b alongside CD4 in rat spleen shows macrophages and T cells.

Fig. 3. Flow cytometry analysis of rat makers CD11b and CD106

Fig. 3. Flow cytometry analysis of rat makers CD11b and CD106. A, PE conjugated Mouse Anti-Rat CD106 (MCA4633PE) and FITC conjugated Mouse IgG2a Isotype Control (MCA1210F). B, PE conjugated Mouse Anti-Rat CD106 (MCA4633PE) and FITC conjugated Mouse Anti-Rat CD11b (MCA619F). All experiments performed on red cell lysed rat bone marrow gated on mononuclear cells.

Fig. 4. Immunofluorescence analysis of rat marker CD11b and CD4

Fig. 4. Immunofluorescence analysis of rat marker CD11b and CD4. CD4+ T cells (red) stained with MCA153 and CD11b positive macrophages (green) stained with MCA619 in rat spleen (cryosection).


Antibodies for Rat in Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry, a method to measure and characterize cells, can be used in standard procedures such as cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection and protein engineering. Bio-Rad offers many anti-rat antibodies that are guaranteed for use in flow cytometry and come conjugated to a variety of different fluorescent dyes, in addition to pre-prepared 2, 3 and 4 color cocktails. Bio-Rad also provides all the reagents  required in a flow assay, such as viability dyes, FC block and flow cytometry kits and a large range of mouse isotype controls.

Finally you have access to a wealth of educational resources to support your flow assay including guides, posters, webinars and practical help and advice.

Rat Flow Cytometry Panels
 

Table 5 shows example panels with common surface and intracellular markers for rat peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid tissue to identify different cell populations.

Table 5. Rat flow cytometry panels.

Marker

Antibody (catalog #)

Formats

General panel; T cell, B cell, NK cell and myeloid

 

 

CD3

MCA772A647

A647

CD45RA

MCA340P647

PE-A647

CD11b

MCA275A488

A488

CD161

MCA1427PE

PE

T cell panel

 

 

CD3

MCA772F

FITC

CD4

MCA55P750

PE-A750

CD8a

MCA48A647

A647

CD45RA

MCA340PE

PE

B cell panel

 

 

CD45RA

MCA340P647

PE-A647

RT1B

MCA46PE

PE

IgM

MCA189F

FITC

CD3

MCA772A647

A647

Myeloid

 

 

CD43

MCA54F

FITC

CD11b

MCA275PB

Pacific Blue

RT-1B

MCA46A647

A647

CD86

MCA2874PE

PE

Macrophages in tissues

 

 

CD68

MCA341A488

A488

CD11b

MCA275PB

Pacific Blue

CD163

MCA342A647

A647

CD45

MCA43P750

PE-A750

Note: Rat T cell panels must contain CD3 as monocytes are positive for CD4.