Method of euthanasia influences the oocyte fertilization rate with fresh mouse sperm.

Abstract

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is used to produce mouse embryos for a variety of reasons. We evaluated the effect of the method of euthanasia on the fertilization rate in 2 different IVF protocols. Oocytes collected from C57BL/6J female mice euthanized by CO2 inhalation or cervical dislocation were used in IVF with fresh sperm from either wild-type or genetically engineered C57BL/6J. Compared with CO2 inhalation, cervical dislocation improved the resulting rate of fertilization by 18% in an IVF method using Cook media and by 13% in an IVF method using methyl-B cyclodextrin and reduced glutathione. The lower fertilization rate due to euthanasia by CO2 inhalation was accompanied by changes in blood pH and body temperature despite efforts to minimize temperature drops. In our hands, euthanasia by cervical dislocation improved fertilization rates and consequently reduced the number of egg-donor mice required.

• Authors: Karen C Hazzard, Dawn E Watkins-Chow, Lisa J Garrett
• Journal: Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS (J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci) Vol. 53 Issue 6 Pg. 641-6 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 2769-6677 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25650969 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Carbon Dioxide

Topics

• Animals
• Carbon Dioxide
• Cryopreservation
• Euthanasia
• Female
• Fertilization in Vitro (veterinary)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Oocytes (cytology, physiology)
• Spermatozoa (drug effects)