Inducing Pseudopregnancy in Female Mice Without the Need for Vasectomized Males Prior to Non-Surgical Embryo Transfer or Artificial Insemination

For successfully maintaining pregnancy with embryo transfer or artificial insemination, female recipient mice must be induced into a pseudopregnant state. Female are traditionally paired overnight vasectomized males, and the following morning, presence of copulation plug is assessed. To increase efficiency producing females, cervical manipulation technique has been standardized to used in combination non-surgical insemination techniques mice. The blunt end small plastic rod inserted vaginally contact cervix vibrated for 30 s by trimmer. procedure quick does not require anesthesia analgesia. This increases reliability predictability females entirely eliminates requirement males. CD1 mice, pseudopregnancy induction using was 83% estrus (N = 76) but only 38% were plugged males 24). Artificial performed synchronization hormones, manipulation, uterine sperm. recipients receiving had rate 72% an average litter size 8.3 pups. method can also produce transfer. Therefore, inducing convenient efficient alternative mating male when performing assisted reproduction techniques. Using provides 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) benefits reducing number animals required eliminating necessity surgically altered