title: A superovulation protocol for the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).
abstract: This study aimed to develop a superovulation protocol for the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus). The spiny mouse is a desert-adapted rodent species, with a long oestrus cycle (11 days) compared with rat and mouse, and gives birth to few (mean litter size is 3) precocial offspring after a relatively long gestation (39 days). We successfully optimised a superovulation protocol that elicited a 5-fold increase in the normal ovulation rate of this species. To induce superovulation in the spiny mouse 2 injections of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG, 10 IU each), 9h apart, were required, followed by 20 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). This protocol was successful in 100% of females trialed and at 33 h post-hCG an average of 14.7 ± 1.5, 1-2 cell embryos were recovered. Histological analysis of ovaries following superovulation revealed large corpus lutea and post-ovulatory follicles occupying a large part of the ovary. Ovulation commenced 6-12 h after the hCG injection and continued until 24-33 h post-hCG as indicated by both histological analysis of ovaries and the presence of oocytes/embryos in the oviduct. This superovulation protocol will facilitate the development of an in vitro culture system for spiny mouse embryos.
authors.affiliation: The Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasco
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008098:Litter Size; D051189:Murinae / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013480:Superovulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine