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Sonographic staging of the developmental status of mouse embryos in utero
Author(s) -
Chang ChingPin,
Chen Lei,
Crabtree Gerald R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/gene.10186
Subject(s) - in utero , embryo , embryogenesis , embryonic stem cell , biology , staging system , andrology , ultrasound , developmental age , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , genetics , pregnancy , fetus , radiology , psychology , gene , developmental psychology , cancer
Summary: In mouse developmental studies it is frequently desirable to isolate embryos of a specific age. However, the traditional staging of embryonic development based on postcoital dates often erroneously predicts the embryonic age, resulting in unwarranted sacrifice of the pregnant mother. Here we report a noninvasive way of staging embryonic development in utero. A clinical 14 MHz ultrasound system was employed to assess the morphology and size of developing embryos from embryonic day 7.5 to 18.5. We demonstrate that the developmental age of the mouse embryos can be accurately determined based on the sonographic morphology and size of the embryos. This noninvasive ultrasound application requires no anesthesia of the mice and the entire process of staging can be completed within 5–10 min. Empirically, this approach is applicable to mice of various genetic backgrounds and significantly enhances the efficiency of studying murine embryogenesis. genesis 36:7–11, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.