Figure 1.

Clinical features of DS-Nh mice kept under conventional conditions at 20 weeks (a) and fluctuation of clinical skin condition with aging (b). Closed circles show data for conventionally housed DS-Nh mice, and open circles show data for DS-Nh mice raised under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. Total clinical scores for skin conditions were determined from the severity of erythema, oedema, dry skin, erosion and excoriation (open and closed black circle indicate clinical skin score). Rubbing/scratching time was counted per 5 min (open and closed red circle indicate scratching time). Each value represents the mean and standard deviation for 10 conventionally housed DS-Nh mice or five DS-Nh mice raised under SPF conditions.