Effect of <i>In Vitro</i> Culture and Embryo Transfer on Neuronal Density and Neurogenesis in the Brain of C57BL/6J Mice

Abstract

The current research is aimed to determine the long-term effects of the in vitro culture (IVC) and embryo transfer (ET) on the neonatal offspring development, as well as on the adult hippocampal neuronal densities, as well hippocampal neurogenesis in С57BL/6J mice. Offspring of naturally born C57BL/6J mice (C57BL group) were compared with C57BL/6J mice born as a result of the IVC combined with ET to C57BL/6J recipient females (ET-C57BL group). At age of 3 mo., no group differences were observed in the body weight and brain-to-body ratio, although sex differences in these variables were observed. The offspring of both sexes born after IVC-ET exhibited the lower level of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus as compared to the control C57BL group. To conclude, IVC and ET exerted no major effects on body and brain weight in offspring, but affected hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult offspring of both sexes. Besides, the number of pyramidal neurons in the CA3 area of hippocampus was lower in female offspring of ET-C57BL group.