Mouse embryo yield and viability after euthanasia by CO2 inhalation or cervical dislocation.
Efficient production of transgenic mice requires high yields of viable, healthy embryos. Cervical dislocation (without prior anesthesia) rather than CO2 inhalation as a means of euthanasia has been justified on the basis of the increased yield of viable ova, but controlled studies have not directly supported this contention. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Guides, and respective Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) have supported the use of CO2 as a preferred, humane method. The study reported here was undertaken to determine the relative yields of viable embryos from mice euthanized either by inhalation of 100% CO2 or by cervical dislocation. Inbred and hybrid mouse strains, representative of common strains used in genetic engineering experimentation included C57BL/6, FVB/N, and B6SJLF1. There was no difference in the embryo yields in comparisons using the two methods of euthanasia (P = 0.534). Decisions regarding the method of euthanasia can be made on the basis of criteria other than those associated with embryo yield and viability.
Howell
Robert L
RL
University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Aging and Developmental Biology, and the University of Rochester Transgenic Facility, Rochester, New York 14642-8645, USA.
Donegan
Catherine L
CL
Pinkert
Carl A
CA
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D033041:Embryo Research; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007756:Laboratory Animal Science / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011247:Pregnancy; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000662:veterinary*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide