Impact of genetic background on placental glycogen storage in mice

129 and C57BL/6 are two of the most widely used laboratory mouse strains. While it is well known that genetic modifiers between the two strains can directly influence embryonic and adult phenotypes, less is known regarding morphological differences in placental development. Here we identify differences in the junctional zone, glycogen storage and the maternal-fetal interface between these two strains and provide examples where these differences impact the phenotypic characterisation of placental mutations.