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  • Clinical Techniques
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Electroejaculation of chimeric rats

Lab Animal volume 42, pages 203–205 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

With the advent of genetic engineering of rodents came the need to assess fertility and germline competency, especially in chimeric rodents generated using embryonic stem cells. Traditional methods rely on natural mating and progeny testing, which is time- and cost-intensive. Electroejaculation is a faster method of collecting sperm for genetic analysis and offers the additional benefit of using fewer animals. This column describes a refined electroejaculation technique for chimeric rats using light gas anesthesia and a custom-made platform for sperm collection.

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Figure 1: Equipment for electroejaculation of rats.
Figure 2: Electroejaculation of the rat.
Figure 3: Collection of ejaculate.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Miriam Hankins, Nathan Johnson, Mary Shaw and Brad Uppinghouse for their help with this project. This research was supported by NIH P40 OD011062 (E.C.B.), the American Society for Laboratory Animal Practitioners and the RADIL endowment for the University of Missouri Veterinary Research Scholars Program (D.M.) and University of Missouri Life Sciences Mission Enhancement Funds (M.R.M.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

    Marina R. McCoy, Daniel Montonye &  Elizabeth C. Bryda

Authors
  1. Marina R. McCoy
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  2. Daniel Montonye
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  3. Elizabeth C. Bryda
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Correspondence to Elizabeth C. Bryda.

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McCoy, M., Montonye, D. & Bryda, E. Electroejaculation of chimeric rats. Lab Anim 42, 203–205 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.301

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