Balafas, E., Stasinopoulou, M., Alexakos, P. et al. 2018. Synchronisation of oestrous cycle on C57BL/6J mice after the introduction of a hanging perforated container with bedding soaked by the excretions of male mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(1), 9-11.

Synchronisation of oestrous cycle is a commonly used method to manage pregnancies either for breeding or for research purposes. Based on Whitten effect, the aim of our study was to introduce a new refined method for oestrous synchronisation and to evaluate its efficacy. Our results clearly show that the use of a hanging perforated container with bedding soaked by excretions of male mice can be used as an effective method for the induction of oestrous in mice housed in IVCs. Our intervention, apart from being non-invasive, constitutes a refinement for the environment of the animals because it gives the opportunity to the animals to interact with the container and promotes their socialisation.