Incorporation of analgesics into rodent embryo transfer protocols: assessing the effects on reproductive outcomes

Surgical embryo transfer in rodents is a common procedure in today?s research laboratory, although little is known of the effect analgesics may have on not only the recipient female but also the embryos. Two perioperative analgesics, ketoprofen and buprenorphine, were evaluated against a saline control in terms of number of pups born, number of pups weaned, and whether or not a litter was born. Both a uterine approach and an oviduct approach were evaluated. Post-surgical behavior was compared among the three surgical animals in each group, and between the non-surgical analgesic control and its surgical counterpart. Results indicated that ketoprofen and buprenorphine have no effect on the number of pups born, weaned, or litters born when compared to a saline control. Significant differences were found between the non-surgical analgesic control and its surgical counterpart in two behavioral categories; once for ketoprofen (behavior) and once for buprenorphine (physical condition). No other differences were found.