A sexually-dimorphic murine model of IUGR induced by embryo transfer
Animal models are needed to develop interventions to prevent or treat intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Fetal growth rates and effects of in utero exposures differ between sexes, but little is known about sex-specific effects of increasing litter size. We established a murine IUGR model using pregnancies generated by multiple embryo transfers, and evaluated sex-specific responses to increasing litter size. CBAF1 embryos were collected at gestation day 0.5 (GD0.5) and 6, 8, 10 or 12 embryos were transferred into each uterine horn of pseudo-pregnant female CD1 mice (n=32). Fetal and placental outcomes were measured at GD18.5. In the main experiment fetuses were genotyped (Sry) for analysis of sex-specific outcomes. The number of implantation sites (P=0.033) and litter size (number of fetuses, P=0.008) correlated positively with number of embryos transferred, while placental weight correlated negatively with litter size (both P<0.01). The relationship between viable litter size and fetal weight differed between sexes (interaction P=0.002), such that fetal weights of males (P=0.002), but not females (P=0.233), correlated negatively with litter size. Placental weight decreased with increasing litter size (P<0.001) and was lower in females than males (P=0.020). Our results suggest that male fetuses grow as fast as permitted by nutrient supply, whereas the female maintains placental reserve capacity. This strategy reflecting sex-specific gene expression is likely to place the male fetus at greater risk of death in the event of a “second hit”.