Breeding and maintenance of an Mecp2-deficient mouse model of Rett syndrome

In this report, we present a retrospective assessment of our experiences in maintaining a colony of Mecp2-deficient mice, and present conditions that we have found to foster breeding success of this mutant mouse strain. Data from our colony of mutant Mecp2 mice show that the Mecp2-null allele is under-represented in the weaned litter population, that litters born to heterozygous Mecp2-null females are consistently smaller in number than wild-type, and that fewer litters from heterozygous Mecp2-null females survive to weaning age than wild-type. Our results also reveal that overall litter viability is significantly higher in heterozygous Mecp2-null females that frequently breed, and that the addition of sunflower seeds to the cages of expecting dams improves the overall breeding success of these mice. Taken together, these data highlight the breeding tendencies for this mutant mouse strain, and from these data, we suggest strategies to maximise their breeding efficiency. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.