A human-based assisted reproduction protocol for the menstruating spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus
Fig 6
Superovulation protocol and embryo collections in Deslorelin implanted spiny mice.
Females are vaginally lavaged until the menstrual phase (~ day 1–3 of the menstrual cycle) and a Deslorelin implant then subcutaneously implanted into each mouse. Females will be allowed 3 cycle lengths (27 days total) to recover and for the agonist implant to have taken effect. They will then be injected IP once daily for 4 days with Gonal-F followed by a single injection of Ovidrel on day 5. Females are then paired with a fertile male and left undisturbed to mate overnight. Forty-eight hours after the Ovidrel injection, the females are killed, embryos collected and immediately vitrified (Experiment 3).