Yuan4 project protocol

Aging study: Vaginal opening and sexual maturation in females of 33 inbred strains of mice   (2009)

Yuan R
With: Schultz D, Godfrey D




Yuan4_Protocol

Project protocol — Contents
 Workflow and sampling
Equipment
Reagents, supplies, and solutions
Procedure for evaluating vaginal patency
Data
Definitions
References



Workflow and sampling

Workflow

Test
Procedure performed
Equipment/ Reagent
Data collected
1
Female mice are examined daily
-
-
2
Each mouse is adequately restrained for examination
forceps
age at vaginal opening
3
Disinfect forcep with ethanol after each use
ethanol
-

Equipment

• Forceps

Reagents, supplies, solutions

  • 95% ethanol solution
  • Gloves

Procedure for evaluating age at vaginal opening

a. Female mice are examined daily starting at 15-day of age until vaginal patency is observed (see Figure 1 below).
b. Forceps are disinfected using 95% ethanol solution prior to vaginal examination.
c. With proper hand restraint, each mouse is positioned ventro-dorsally, and vaginal cavity is examined gently with clean forceps.
d. For additional information go to The Aging Center at The Jackson Laboratory.

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of vaginal patency in the female mouse.

Definition

Vaginal opening or patency is one example of postnatal tissue remodeling as part of normal development and reproductive maturation. This is similar to those leading to the opening of the eyes, and the ears shortly after birth in mice (see Rodriquez et. al., 1997).



References

    Rodriguez I, Araki K, Khatib K, Martinou JC, Vassalli P. Mouse vaginal opening is an apoptosis-dependent process which can be prevented by the overexpression of Bcl2. Dev Biol. 1997 Apr 1;184(1):115-21. PubMed 9142988