Benefits of timed matings over blind/random matings in mice to get timed embryos

Abstract

Mus Musculus has provided scientists a well-adapted animal model for the developmental studies. There is one on one co-relation between molecular determinants such as genes between humans and mice hence making them superior model to study gene expression and to do translation research. Swiss albino mice strain of house mice was used in this study with comparisons of efficiency of pregnancies during two different strategies of mating; i.e., more traditional random/blind mating and more recent timed mating in experimental paradigms to get staged mice embryos. The workflow required for the blind mating was less labor intensive and required minimal maintenance both time and human resource and was easy to execute. On the other hand, timed mating strategy was ideal for getting staged embryos that was efficient in giving pregnancies and was ideal for less equipped labs but however required more maintenance and human resource. The results of comparisons of weight gain with pregnancies was similar in two groups where some un-pregnant mice also showed average or above average weight gain with time. The z-test analysis for difference between two proportions was employed to calculate efficiency of pregnancies in the two groups and p value was found to be 0.06 which suggested that was no significant difference between the two groups however, this might be due to small sample size that was possible in our small setting. The accurate embryonic staging was required in the experiments corresponding to the peak of neurogenesis in mice and embryos were fixed and sectioned and later studied with immunohistochemistry. The timed matings showed to be superior regarding total pregnancies and having accurate stages and is recommended in labs even if in smaller settings and prevent less animal sacrifice.