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Fertilization of Mouse Eggs in vitro

Abstract

THE only mammal in which in vitro fertilization has been established conclusively is the rabbit1,2. More recently, the fertilization of hamster eggs in vitro has been reported3,4, but attempts to procure development of the fertilized eggs beyond the two-cell stage have failed5. So far, in vitro fertilization of mouse eggs has not been reported6, although mouse eggs have been fertilized and cultured to the blastocyst stage within explanted Fallopian tubes maintained in organ culture7. The blastocysts developed to 17 day old foetuses when transferred to suitably prepared recipient foster mothers8. I describe the in vitro fertilization of mouse eggs in a simple chemically defined medium9, and the subsequent development of the fertilized eggs to 17 day old foetuses.

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WHITTINGHAM, D. Fertilization of Mouse Eggs in vitro. Nature 220, 592–593 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/220592a0

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