title: The biology and methodology of assisted reproduction in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).
abstract: Although laboratory-reared species of the genus Peromyscus-including deer mice-are used as model animals in a wide range of research, routine manipulation of Peromyscus embryogenesis and reproduction has been lagging. The objective of the present study was to optimize conditions for oocyte and/or embryo retrieval and for in vitro culturing. On average, 6.4 oocytes per mouse were recovered when two doses of 15 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) were given 24 h apart, followed by 15 IU of hCG 48 h later. Following this hormone priming, females mated overnight with a fertile male yielded an average of 9.1 two-cell stage embryos. Although two-cell stage embryos developed to 8-cell stage in Potassium Simplex Optimized Medium (KSOM; Millipore-Chemicon, Billerica, MA, USA) in vitro, but not further, embryos recovered at the 8- to 16-cell stages developed into fully expanded blastocysts when cultured in M16 media in vitro. These blastocysts had full potential to develop into late stage fetuses and possibly into live pups. As a result of the present work, all stages of Peromyscus preimplantation development are now obtainable in numbers sufficient for molecular or other analyses. These advances provide the opportunity for routine studies involving embryo transfer (e.g., chimeras, transgenics), and preservation of genetic lines by cryopreservation.
authors.affiliation: Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veres
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Duselis
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graft
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pryor
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crossland
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Vrana
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szalai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009865:Oocytes; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000662:veterinary*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine