Effects of rearing environment on adrenal weights, sexual development, and behavior in gerbils: An examination of Richter's domestication hypothesis.

Clark, Mertice M.; Galef, Bennett G.

doi:10.1037/h0077823

Cited by 35 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Further, Clark and Galef (1980) had previously shown that gerbils reared in a sheltered (but not necessarily warmer) environment show slower growth but larger adrenal to body weight ratios.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

The effects of rearing environment on pup development

Jans

Villers

Woodside

1985

Developmental Psychobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Norway rats were reared either in a standard laboratory cage or in a nest constructed by the dam from newspaper strips. Growth, thermoregulatory ability, and adrenal, gonad, adipose tissue, and brain weights were measured at weaning on Day 21 postpartum. While there was no difference in growth, nest-reared animals had lower body temperatures, but could thermoregulate as well as cage-reared animals. Nest-reared animals also had relatively smaller adrenals and less brown adipose tissue. Gonad and brain weights were similar. An interesting finding was that males and females were differentially affected by the nest-rearing. Differences between cage- and nest-reared animals were more evident in females, and thermoregulatory ability was more closely associated with the quality of the nest during the first 10 days than body weight in females. For males, body weight was more important. These latter data are discussed in relation to differential interaction between the dam and male and female pups.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 97%

The effects of rearing environment on pup development

Jans

Villers

Woodside

1985

Developmental Psychobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Behaviors of domestic gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), for example, were altered toward the wild phenotype after one generation of rearing in tunnels (Clark and Galef, 1980). Compared to rats (Rattus sp.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)

Biggins

Vargas

Godbey

et al. 1999

Biological Conservation

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Mongolian gerbils reared under natural conditions showed an earlier achievement of sexual maturity and signi®cantly lower testis weights than laboratoryreared comparison animals (Clark & Galef, 1980). The comparison of reproductive parameters in wild and laboratory gerbils showed differences in litter size (Stuermer, 1998) between the two strains.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Higher testicular activity in laboratory gerbils compared to wild Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

et al. 2000

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Mongolian gerbil has been used as laboratory animal since 1935. Breeding gerbils as an isolated laboratory population for decades may have led to a domestication process whose effects include changes in brain size. Quantitative changes in testicular activity could be assumed. Comparative intraspeci®c measurements were performed in 34 adult males of the laboratory strain (LAB) and in males raised as offspring of wild Mongolian gerbils (WILD) caught in central Mongolia (F 1 , n = 16; F 2 , n = 17). LAB and WILD were examined in January. Testicular spermatozoa were counted, proportions of different cell types were analysed using DNA¯ow cytometry, and mitotic and meiotic activity was calculated from DNA histograms. Intratesticular testosterone concentrations were measured with an enzyme immunoassay. In the WILD, testicular activity was lower and varied more. The overall weight, the ef®ciency of spermatogenesis (sperm/g testis) and resulting total sperm per testis were signi®cantly less in offspring of wild gerbils. This corresponded with lower levels of haploid cells, total germ cell transformation of diploid cells to spermatids and meiotic transformation of spermatocytes to spermatids. The most profound difference was found in testicular testosterone concentration: the mean level was 405.7 41.2 ng/g testis in LAB vs 6.4 2.0 ng/g in WILD F 1 . All parameters changed in WILD F 2 generation compared with F 1 and diminished the differences with LAB. Differences between F 1 and F 2 were signi®cant for testis mass, testis/ body weight ratio, percentages of haploid cells and cells in G 2 /M phase, both germ cell transformations and testosterone concentration. The results suggest rapid, adaptive changes of male reproductive physiology in the early offspring generations from wild populations under laboratory breeding conditions. The breeding of Mongolian gerbils in the laboratory has in¯uenced the testicular function resulting in increased spermatogenic activity and highly stimulated testosterone production.

show abstract

Effects of rearing environment on adrenal weights, sexual development, and behavior in gerbils: An examination of Richter's domestication hypothesis.

Cited by 35 publications

References 17 publications

The effects of rearing environment on pup development

The effects of rearing environment on pup development

Influence of prerelease experience on reintroduced black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes)

Higher testicular activity in laboratory gerbils compared to wild Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About