Impact of superovulation and mating on the wellbeing of juvenile and adult C57BL/6N mice
Thomas Kolbe A B , Sarjoun Sheety C , Ingrid Walter D , Rupert Palme E and Thomas Rülicke C F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Biomodels Austria, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
B IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
C Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
D VetCore Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
E Institute of Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
F Corresponding author. Email: thomas.ruelicke@vetmeduni.ac.at
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28(7) 969-973 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14372
Submitted: 3 October 2014 Accepted: 12 November 2014 Published: 17 December 2014
Abstract
Superovulation of mice is routinely used to increase the number of obtainable ova per female. Because of the better outcome, prepubescent females are preferentially used. Here, we provide results of the impact of superovulation and mating on the wellbeing of juvenile compared with adult C57BL/6N mice. Two groups of mice (3–4 weeks vs 7–8 weeks old) were superovulated and mated. Observation of mating behaviour showed that reluctant adult females tended to fight the male’s approach, whereas juveniles preferred to take flight. Faeces were collected daily for the analysis of stress hormones. There was no difference in the levels of glucocorticoid metabolites either between age groups or between treated animals and their controls. Histology after mating revealed intact vaginal mucosa without any detectable lesions in all animals regardless of age. In contrast to adults, almost all juveniles were synchronised in oestrus and produced significantly more ova. Taken together, our results reveal no increased welfare problem from using juvenile mice for superovulation and mating. Considering the higher yield of fertilisable oocytes and zygotes, it is advisable to use C57BL/6N prepubescent mice in order to reduce the number of donor females required.
Additional keywords: distress, mating behaviour, oestrous cycle, oestrus synchronisation, sexual maturation, vaginal histology.
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