Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiency

Abstract This study aims to refine sterile cesarean section techniques, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and foster mother selection strategies to enhance the efficiency of germ-free (GF) mouse production. We conducted the following analyses: (1) comparing different cesarean section methods, (2) evaluat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuting Yang, Weimin He, Jingqiang Li, Jinhui Wang, Yuyan Tang, Haitao Shang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05411-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849766256814587904
author Yuting Yang
Weimin He
Jingqiang Li
Jinhui Wang
Yuyan Tang
Haitao Shang
author_facet Yuting Yang
Weimin He
Jingqiang Li
Jinhui Wang
Yuyan Tang
Haitao Shang
author_sort Yuting Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aims to refine sterile cesarean section techniques, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and foster mother selection strategies to enhance the efficiency of germ-free (GF) mouse production. We conducted the following analyses: (1) comparing different cesarean section methods, (2) evaluating the impact of natural mating versus in vitro fertilization (IVF) for obtaining donor mice, and (3) assessing maternal care among three inbred strains (C57BL/6J, BALB/c, NSG) and one outbred strain (KM) as GF foster mothers. The results showed that optimizing surgical methods which preserve the female reproductive tract during cesarean section (FRT-CS), significantly improved fetal survival rates while maintaining sterility. IVF enabled precise control over donor delivery dates, enhancing experimental reproducibility. Among GF foster strains, BALB/c and NSG mice exhibited superior nursing and weaning success, whereas C57BL/6J had the lowest weaning rate, in stark contrast to findings on maternal care in SPF C57BL/6J foster mothers. These findings offer practical guidance for optimizing GF mouse production, improving the efficiency of obtaining germ-free mice through cesarean derivation.
format Article
id doaj-art-89bc42e197e64a8ab3afb1fd6b317ed5
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-89bc42e197e64a8ab3afb1fd6b317ed52025-08-20T03:04:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511910.1038/s41598-025-05411-4Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiencyYuting Yang0Weimin He1Jingqiang Li2Jinhui Wang3Yuyan Tang4Haitao Shang5Germ-Free Mouse Research Facility, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGerm-Free Mouse Research Facility, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityShanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji UniversityGerm-Free Mouse Research Facility, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGerm-Free Mouse Research Facility, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGerm-Free Mouse Research Facility, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract This study aims to refine sterile cesarean section techniques, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and foster mother selection strategies to enhance the efficiency of germ-free (GF) mouse production. We conducted the following analyses: (1) comparing different cesarean section methods, (2) evaluating the impact of natural mating versus in vitro fertilization (IVF) for obtaining donor mice, and (3) assessing maternal care among three inbred strains (C57BL/6J, BALB/c, NSG) and one outbred strain (KM) as GF foster mothers. The results showed that optimizing surgical methods which preserve the female reproductive tract during cesarean section (FRT-CS), significantly improved fetal survival rates while maintaining sterility. IVF enabled precise control over donor delivery dates, enhancing experimental reproducibility. Among GF foster strains, BALB/c and NSG mice exhibited superior nursing and weaning success, whereas C57BL/6J had the lowest weaning rate, in stark contrast to findings on maternal care in SPF C57BL/6J foster mothers. These findings offer practical guidance for optimizing GF mouse production, improving the efficiency of obtaining germ-free mice through cesarean derivation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05411-4
spellingShingle Yuting Yang
Weimin He
Jingqiang Li
Jinhui Wang
Yuyan Tang
Haitao Shang
Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiency
Scientific Reports
title Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiency
title_full Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiency
title_fullStr Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiency
title_full_unstemmed Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiency
title_short Optimized cesarean techniques, IVF use, and foster strain selection enhance germ-free mouse production efficiency
title_sort optimized cesarean techniques ivf use and foster strain selection enhance germ free mouse production efficiency
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05411-4
work_keys_str_mv AT yutingyang optimizedcesareantechniquesivfuseandfosterstrainselectionenhancegermfreemouseproductionefficiency
AT weiminhe optimizedcesareantechniquesivfuseandfosterstrainselectionenhancegermfreemouseproductionefficiency
AT jingqiangli optimizedcesareantechniquesivfuseandfosterstrainselectionenhancegermfreemouseproductionefficiency
AT jinhuiwang optimizedcesareantechniquesivfuseandfosterstrainselectionenhancegermfreemouseproductionefficiency
AT yuyantang optimizedcesareantechniquesivfuseandfosterstrainselectionenhancegermfreemouseproductionefficiency
AT haitaoshang optimizedcesareantechniquesivfuseandfosterstrainselectionenhancegermfreemouseproductionefficiency