Pseudopregnancy and reproductive cycle synchronisation cannot be induced using conventional methods in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus)
Nadia Bellofiore
A B D , Stacey J. Ellery A B , Peter Temple-Smith B and Jemma Evans C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27–31 Wright Street, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
B Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
C Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27–31 Wright Street, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: nadia.bellofiore@hudson.org.au
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 32(4) 363-372 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD18506
Submitted: 10 December 2018 Accepted: 28 July 2019 Published: 16 December 2019
Abstract
The menstruating spiny mouse is the first rodent identified to exhibit natural spontaneous decidualisation, cyclical endometrial shedding and regeneration. While the spiny mouse shares several primate-like characteristics in its reproductive biology, it has not been established whether pseudopregnancy can be induced or if its cycles can be synchronised as in non-human mammals. Here we describe attempts to induce pseudopregnancy and synchronisation of menstrual cycles (i.e. Whitten effect) in spiny mice. Virgin females (n = 3–8 per group) underwent one of the following procedures to induce pseudopregnancy: daily vaginal lavage only (control), progesterone injection, mechanical stimulation of the cervix and sterile mating. A separate cohort was also exposed to male-soiled bedding to assess the Whitten effect. Pseudopregnancy was deemed successful if females presented with extended (>12 consecutive days) leukocytic vaginal cytology. No female from any method of induction met this criterion. In addition, the menstrual cycles of a group of six females could not be synchronised, nor immediate ovulation induced via exposure to male-soiled bedding. These responses indicate that the spiny mouse does not behave as a typical rodent. Like higher-order primates, the spiny mouse exhibits a relatively rare reproductive strategy, of failure to show pseudopregnancy or cyclical synchronisation. This is further endorsement of the use of this species as a versatile animal model for translational studies of menstruation and fertility.
Additional keywords: menstruation, rodent, progesterone, corpus luteum, stimulation, uterus.
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