I work with pups at P3 and P9 and usually remove all animals from the female to harvest the organs.
I am aware that there is a postpartum estrus (which I, unfortunately, cannot use due to the developmental stages I need) and a lactation-induced infertility in mice.
But what about if the whole litter is removed and there are no pups left?
Literature suggests that animals will cease lactating but will they reenter estrus? I wasn´t able to find any type of literature on this.
And what about the female?
Do any of you have exerperience with how well they tolerate the removal of several litters in a row?
Do the dams display signs of depression or barbering?
Thank you a lot in advance!
Yes, female mice typically reenter estrus relatively soon after the removal of their pups. This phenomenon is known as post-lactational or post-weaning estrus. When the pups are removed, the suppression of estrus due to lactation is lifted, and the female's reproductive cycle can resume. The timing of reentry into estrus can vary, but it generally occurs within a few days to a week after the pups are removed. This allows the female to become fertile and capable of conceiving another litter shortly after the loss or weaning of her previous litter.
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