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

Our primary research focus is the development of assisted reproduction techniques that provide refinements and reductions in keeping with the 3Rs of animal experimentation. We have developed non-surgical embryo transfer and non-surgical artificial insemination procedures for mice and a non-surgical embryo transfer procedure for rats. With the addition of the cervical manipulation procedure to provide pseudo pregnant females, we create 3Rs improvements and assisted reproduction in rodents.

The protocols described here provide streamlined methods for recovering pups using non-surgical embryo transfer methods and artificial insemination in mice. The cervical manipulation protocol provides a refinement of procedures producing pseudo pregnant female recipients for assisted reproduction techniques. It reduces the number of females needed as pseudo pregnant recipients and it eliminates the need for vasectomized males.

The protocols outlined here can be used for strategic vivarium management. The protocols can be used with cryo preservation, in vitro fertilization, rederivation, the production of age match cohorts and the production of genetically modified animals.