Super pregnancy in a BALB/c mouse superovulated with PMSG
Hanieh Vaseghi1, Asghar Mogheiseh1, Masood Sepehrimanesh2
1Department of Clinical sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Laboratory Animal Research
|October 20, 2017
Summary
Superovulation protocols using PMSG-hCG can lead to exceptionally high litter sizes in mice. One BALB/c mouse unexpectedly carried 30 pups, demonstrating a rare super pregnancy case.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Mammalian Reproduction
- Animal Models
Background:
- Superovulation is a common technique to increase oocyte yield in laboratory animals.
- Hormonal protocols, such as Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) followed by Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), are widely used.
- BALB/c mice are a standard strain for reproductive studies.
Observation:
- A superovulation protocol involving PMSG and hCG was applied to 10 BALB/c mice.
- Mice were mated, and uterine examinations were performed on day 14 post-mating.
- One mouse exhibited an unusually high number of fetuses.
Findings:
- The mean fetal count across ten mice was 5.4 ± 3.18.
- One mouse, however, was found to be super pregnant, carrying 30 fetuses.
- This represents a significant deviation from the average litter size.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for extreme outcomes in superovulation.
- Suggests variability in individual response to hormonal stimulation.
- Informs future reproductive studies and breeding strategies in mouse models.
