Ultrasound to ultrasee—The use of ultrasound to determine pregnancy in mice (2024)

Karam, C., Kemp, K.

Abstract

Several MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) groups require early-stage mouse embryos for their scientific research programmes. Traditionally, Animal Technicians have relied on visual checks or palpation of the abdomen to determine pregnancy in mice. In 2017 an ultrasound machine was purchased as the equipment would enable plugged mice to be scanned to confirm pregnancy prior to sacrificing, therefore, providng an increased accuracy to overcome the limitations of the existing methods. Therefore allowing females which do not appear pregnant to be mated again; a refinement to the current practice also reducing the number of animals used for experiments.