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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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Mouse Oocyte Microinjection, Maturation and Ploidy Assessment
Published on: July 23, 2011
Collection of fertilized one-cell mouse eggs for microinjection
1Neuropeptide Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 11, 2011
Summary
This chapter details a straightforward method for collecting fertilized F2 eggs from superovulated mice. Mastering the mouth-operated pipet holder allows for efficient recovery of the vast majority of eggs within an hour.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Superovulation is a common technique to increase egg yield in female mammals.
- Fertilized eggs are crucial for various research applications, including genetic studies and embryo transfer.
- Efficient egg collection is vital for maximizing experimental throughput.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a standardized procedure for collecting fertilized F2 eggs from mice.
- To provide optimal timing for egg collection based on light-dark cycles.
- To enable researchers to efficiently obtain a large number of eggs for subsequent procedures.
Main Methods:
- Immature F1 females undergo superovulation and mating.
- Fertilized F2 eggs are dissected from the upper oviduct (ampulla).
- A mouth-operated pipet holder is utilized for egg recovery.
Main Results:
- Eggs can be recovered several hours prior to planned injection.
- Optimal collection time is between 11 AM and 12 noon for mice with a midnight dark phase.
- The procedure is efficient, yielding the majority of eggs from 10 mice in under one hour.
Conclusions:
- A simple and efficient method for collecting fertilized mouse eggs is presented.
- The described technique facilitates timely egg recovery for various experimental needs.
- Mastery of the pipetting technique ensures high-yield egg collection.
