Publications
Taft RA, Davisson M and Wiles MV. 2006. Know thy mouse. Trends Genet 22:649-653.
Davisson MT, Taft RA. 2006. Strategies for managing an ever increasing mutant mouse repository. Brain Res 1091:255-257.
Byers SL, Payson SJ, Taft RA. 2005. Performance of ten inbred mouse strains following assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Theriogenology Nov 2; [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 16271754.
Revised nomenclature for strain 129 mice.
Festing-MF; Simpson-EM; Davisson-MT; Mobraaten-LE
Mamm-Genome. 1999 Aug; 10(8): 836
Transgenic mouse strain rescue by frozen ovaries.
Sztein-JM; McGregor-TE; Bedigian-HJ; Mobraaten-LE
Lab-Anim-Sci. 1999 Feb; 49(1): 99-100
Cryopreservation and orthotopic transplantation of mouse ovaries: new approach in gamete banking.
Sztein-J; Sweet-H; Farley-J; Mobraaten-L
Biol-Reprod. 1998 Apr; 58(4): 1071-4
Abstract
Mouse half ovaries were cryopreserved and orthotopically transplanted into ovariectomized recipients genetically identical to ovary donors except for the coat color gene. Fertility was reestablished in 57% of the female recipients, which became pregnant in an average of 40 days after transplantation of frozen-thawed half ovaries. These experiments demonstrate that ovary cryopreservation can be a very useful option for banking mouse germplasm, or managing subfertile animal colonies, when embryo or sperm freezing cannot be used or is not cost effective.
The uterine environment enhances cognitive competence.
Denenberg-VH; Hoplight-BJ; Mobraaten-LE
Neuroreport. 1998 Mar 9; 9(4): 619-23
Abstract
Genetically identical mouse embryos were transferred into same-strain uteri (transfer controls) or into hybrid uteri. A third group was not transferred. When adult, the mice were given a series of behavioral tests. In-strain transfer controls differed from non-transfer mice only on two activity measures, and did not differ on any cognitive variable. In contrast, mice reared in hybrid uteri were found to be superior to in -strain transfer mice on discrimination learning, Lashley maze learning and Morris maze learning; they also showed better adaptation in an avoidance learning shuttlebox. To our knowledge this is the first study showing that the uterine environment can have a general enhancing effect upon cognitive competence across a broad range of behaviors.
Motility of cryopreserved mouse spermatozoa affected by temperature of collection and rate of thawing.
Sztein-JM; Farley-JS; Young-AF; Mobraaten-LE
Cryobiology. 1997 Aug; 35(1): 46-52
Abstract
In an attempt to optimize a method of cryopreserving spermazoa from mice bearing mutations, we investigated the effect on motility of temperature for the collection of mouse sperm and the rate of thawing after freezing. Comparison among samples of sperm collected from both the caudae epididymides and vas deferens placed directly in a cryoprotectant of 3% skim milk and 18% raffinose equilibrated at 37, 23, and 3 degrees C showed no difference in the number of viable sperm harvested. Concentration and motility was highest after collection at 37 degrees C (22.3 x 10(6) sperm/ml with 80% motility) combined with rapid thawing at 37 degrees C (2.9 x 10(6) sperm/ml with 84% motility in the swim-up fraction). The fertilization capacity of sperm collected and thawed at 37 degrees C was analyzed in vitro and no difference was observed between the cryopreserved sperm and the control (91 and 89%, respectively). Transfer of in vitro fertilized embryos to pseudopregnant recipients resulted in 37% implantation at Day 10 of pregnancy and 38% live births at term.
Genetic variation among 129 substrains and its importance for targeted mutagenesis in mice.
Simpson-EM; Linder-CC; Sargent-EE; Davisson-MT; Mobraaten-LE; Sharp-JJ
Nat-Genet. 1997 May; 16(1): 19-27
Abstract
Targeted mutagenesis in mice, a powerful tool for the analysis of gene function and human disease, makes extensive use of 129 mouse substrains. Although all are named 129, we document that outcrossing of these substrains, both deliberate and accidental, has lead to extensive genetic variability among substrains and embryonic stem cells derived from them. This clearer understanding of 129 substrain variability allows consideration of its negative impact on targeting technology, including: homologous recombination frequencies, preparation of inbred animals, and availability of appropriate controls. Based on these considerations we suggest a number of recommendations for future experimental design.
FVB/N: an inbred mouse strain preferable for transgenic analyses.
Taketo-M; Schroeder-AC; Mobraaten-LE; Gunning-KB; Hanten-G; Fox-RR; Roderick-TH; Stewart-CL; Lilly-F; Hansen-CT; et-al
Proc-Natl-Acad-Sci-U-S-A. 1991 Mar 15; 88(6): 2065-9
Abstract
FVB/N mice offer a system suitable for most transgenic experiments and subsequent genetic analyses. The inbred FVB/N strain is characterized by vigorous reproductive performance and consistently large litters. Moreover, fertilized FVB/N eggs contain large and prominent pronuclei, which facilitate microinjection of DNA. The phenotype of large pronuclei in the zygote is a dominant trait associated with the FVB/N oocyte but not the FVB/N sperm. In experiments to generate transgenic mice, the same DNA constructs were injected into three different types of zygotes: FVB/N, C57BL/6J, and (C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F1. FVB/N zygotes survived well after injection, and transgenic animals were obtained with efficiencies similar to the F1 zygotes and much better than the C57BL/6J zygotes. Genetic markers of the FVB/N strain have been analyzed for 44 loci that cover 15 chromosomes and were compared with those of commonly used inbred strains. In addition to the albino FVB/N strain, pigmented congenic strains of FVB/N are being constructed. These features make the FVB/N strain advantageous to use for research with transgenic mice.
Developmental capacity of mouse oocytes cryopreserved before and after maturation in vitro.
Schroeder-AC; Champlin-AK; Mobraaten-LE; Eppig-JJ
J-Reprod-Fertil. 1990 May; 89(1): 43-50
Abstract
The survival and developmental capacity of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes frozen (1) at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, after maturation in vitro with (2) and without (3) FSH, and (4) after gonadotrophin-stimulated ovulation were assessed. Survival, defined as the number of morphologically normal oocytes, after freeze-thaw at the GV stage (69%), was lower than for oocytes frozen after ovulation (84%), and after maturation in vitro with FSH (88%) and without FSH (81%). Treatment with DMSO without freezing had no effect on survival when compared with untreated controls except in immature GV-stage oocytes for which there was a slight reduction. After insemination in vitro, 9% of frozen-thawed GV -stage oocytes cleaved to two equal blastomeres, but none developed to blastocysts. Of oocytes matured in vitro before freezing, 17% cleaved to the 2-cell stage and 18% of these developed to blastocysts. When oocytes were matured in vitro in the presence of FSH, however, the percentage cleaving to the 2-cell stage after freeze-thaw was improved to 55%, and 77% of 2-cell stage embryos developed to blastocysts. When ovulated cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes were frozen, 88% cleaved and 67% of the cleaved embryos developed to blastocysts. When 158 two-cell embryos resulting from oocytes matured in vitro with FSH were transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant foster mothers, 41 genetically marked live young were produced.
Cell surface characteristics of blastocysts from spontaneously ovulating and gonadotropin-treated mice.
Champlin-AK; Kuzia-SJ; Rice-BA; Mobraaten-LE
Biol-Reprod. 1987 Mar; 36(2): 439-44
Abstract
Differences were found in the surface architecture of blastocysts from spontaneously ovulating and from gonadotropin-treated females of the BALB/cBy and the C57BL/6J strains of mice. Significantly fewer microvilli and a greater percentage of smooth areas were found on the surfaces of blastocysts from gonadotropin-treated females compared to those from spontaneously ovulating females. The differences were greater in blastocysts from gonadotropin-treated immature females than in blastocysts from similarly treated mature females.
Mouse embryo cryobanking.
Mobraaten-LE
J-In-Vitro-Fert-Embryo-Transf. 1986 Feb; 3(1): 28-32
Abstract
The frozen storage of mouse embryos is a practical means of assuring the preservation of scientifically valuable strains of mice for research. Banks are maintained at over 15 institutions throughout the world. At the Jackson Laboratory eight-cell embryos from approximately 500 strains are preserved in liquid nitrogen storage.
