Growth and reproduction of mice developed from bisected embryos

Embryos from three groups of mice, ICR (I), a synthetic (S), and an F(1) hybrid from C57BL males and S females (F), were used to examine effects of embryo bisection on subsequent viability, postnatal growth and reproduction. In two experiments, Group S females used as recipients received the following combinations of whole (W) and/or bisected (B) embryos: W(I) and W(F), W(I) and B(F), B(I) and W(F), and B(I) and B(F) in Experiment 1 and W(I) and W(S), W(I) and B(S), B(I) and W(S), and B(I) and B(S) in Experiment 2. Eight to 12 embryos of both types were transferred surgically to two horns of the uterus. Overall survival rate of whole embryos (32.6%) was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than that for demi-embryos (13.2%). The gestation period after transfer was significantly longer (P < 0.05) for demi-embryos (17.5d) than for whole embryos (16.4 d). Mice developed from demi and whole embryos were not different in mean body weight at birth and at 21, 42 and 63 d of age. Fertility and litter size at first parity of mice that developed from bisected embryos were comparable with those that developed from whole embryos. Hence, bisection decreased embryo viability, increased gestation period of recipients but did not affect postnatal growth and reproduction.