Figure 1
Experimental timeline.
Table 1
High frequency ultrasound of embryonic and fetal measurements in control and circadian disrupted mice were recorded on all animals over the course of pregnancy on days 6.5–18.5 measuring decidual thickness, gestational sac thickness and length, placental thickness and length, crown-rump length, occipital-snout length, and stomach diameter. Because it is not possible to measure each measurement parameter for the entire duration of the pregnancy, we divided the measurements into three time groups. The first set of parameters were measured on days E6.5–9.5. The second set of parameters were measured on days E10.5–13.5. The final measurements were recorded on days E14.5–18.5. We found significant differences in gestational sac thickness, gestational sac length, placental length, placental thickness, and stomach diameter. All measurements were taken in millimeters, presented as an average ± SD; *p < 0.05.
| EXPERIMENTAL GROUP | EMBRYONIC DAY | SET OF PARAMETERS | NUMBER OF EMBRYOS | AVERAGE (MEAN ± SD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control | E6.5–9.5 | Decidual Thickness (width) | 11 | 2.50 ± 0.65 mm |
| Decidual Thickness (length) | 11 | 3.58 ± 1.02 mm | ||
| Gestational Sac Thickness | 6 | 2.44 ± 0.23 mm | ||
| Gestational Sac Length | 6 | 3.85 ± 0.65 mm | ||
| Circadian Disrupted | E6.5–9.5 | Decidual Thickness (width) | 18 | 2.32 ± 0.62 mm |
| Decidual Thickness (length) | 18 | 3.50 ± 1.00 mm | ||
| Gestational Sac Thickness | 10 | 3.41 ± 0.54 mm | ||
| Gestational Sac Length | 10 | 4.61 ± 0.62 mm | ||
| Control | E10.5–13.5 | Gestational Sac Thickness | 25 | 5.10 ± 1.37 mm |
| Gestational Sac Length | 25 | 8.84 ± 2.23 mm | ||
| Placental Length | 11 | 5.12 ± 1.09 mm | ||
| Placental Thickness | 11 | 1.29 ± 0.50 mm | ||
| Crown-Rump Length | 22 | 8.12 ± 2.50 mm | ||
| Occipital-Snout Length | 14 | 4.45 ± 0.74 mm | ||
| Stomach Diameter | 8 | 1.34 ± 0.19 mm | ||
| Circadian Disrupted | E10.5–13.5 | Gestational Sac Thickness | 28 | 5.33 ± 0.85 mm |
| Gestational Sac Length | 28 | 8.87 ± 7.80 mm | ||
| Placental Length | 21 | 5.75 ± 0.95 mm | ||
| Placental Thickness | 21 | 1.68 ± 0.57 mm | ||
| Crown-Rump Length | 29 | 7.36 ± 2.22 mm | ||
| Occipital-Snout Length | 24 | 4.44 ± 0.78 mm | ||
| Stomach Diameter | 9 | 2.00 ± 0.72 mm | ||
| Control | E14.5–18.5 | Gestational Sac Thickness | 18 | 6.28 ± 1.01 mm |
| Gestational Sac Length | 18 | 11.62 ± 1.15 mm | ||
| Placental Length | 7 | 6.56 ± 1.25 mm | ||
| Placental Thickness | 7 | 1.40 ± 0.64 mm | ||
| Crown-Rump Length | 17 | 10.93 ± 1.38 mm | ||
| Occipital-Snout Length | 12 | 5.18 ± 0.65 mm | ||
| Stomach Diameter | 10 | 2.15 ± 0.68 mm | ||
| Circadian Disrupted | E14.5–18.5 | Gestational Sac Thickness | 12 | 6.81 ± 1.12 mm |
| Gestational Sac Length | 12 | 12.52 ± 0.99 mm | ||
| Placental Length | 6 | 8.82 ± 1.56 mm* | ||
| Placental Thickness | 6 | 2.22 ± 0.56 mm* | ||
| Crown-Rump Length | 17 | 11.32 ± 1.37 mm | ||
| Occipital-Snout Length | 14 | 5.74 ± 1.10 mm | ||
| Stomach Diameter | 6 | 3.19 ± 0.84 mm* |
Figure 2
Representative images of high frequency ultrasound images. A) Control implantation site at day 8.5. indicated with red arrows; B) Control fetus at day 14.5; C) Control fetus at day 16.5. Notice the calcified vertebrae and eye indicated with red arrow; D) Circadian disrupted implantation site at day 6.5 indicated with red arrow; E) Circadian disrupted fetus at day 14.5. F) Circadian disrupted fetus at day 17.5 with calcified skull and vertebrae indicated with red arrow.