Influence of Strain and Parity on the Risk of Litter Loss in Laboratory Mice

Weber, Elin M.; Algers, Bo; Würbel, Hanno; Hultgren, Jan; Olsson, I. Anna S.

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02147.x

Cited by 39 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…An association of complete litter losses with construction‐related stress supported earlier studies indicating that complete litter losses are rare and likely stemming from a husbandry issue separate from infanticide (Weber et al. 2013a, 2013b). Similarly, the proportion of early deaths (P0–P8) was lower for the quiescent period, 0.15 (47 of 317 born), compared with construction, 0.32 (188 of 587 born).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

Survival and growth of C57BL/6J mice lacking the BK channel,Kcnma1: lower adult body weight occurs together with higher body fat

et al. 2017

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Big conductance potassium (BK) channels contribute to K+ flow and electrical behavior in many cell types. Mice made null for the gene (Kcnma1) producing the BK channel (BKKO) exhibit numerous deficits in physiological functions. Breeding mice lacking a single allele of Kcnma1 (C57BL/6J background) had litter sizes of approximately eight pups. For the period of maternal care (P0–P21), pup deaths peaked at P1 with a second less severe interval of death peaking near P13. Early deaths were twice as likely during a 20‐month period of building construction compared with the quiescent period after cessation of construction. Births during construction were not consistent with Mendelian predictions indicating the likelihood of a specific disadvantage induced by this environmental stressor. Later BKKO pup deaths (~P13) also were more numerous than Mendelian expectations. After weaning, weight gain was slower for BKKO mice compared with wild‐type littermates: 5 g less for male BKKO mice and 4 g less for female BKKO mice. Body composition determined by quantitative magnetic resonance indicated a higher fat proportion for wild‐type female mice compared with males, as well as a higher hydration ratio. Both male and female BKKO mice showed higher fat proportions than wild‐type, with female BKKO mice exhibiting greater variation. Together, these results indicate that BKKO mice suffered disadvantages that lead to prenatal and perinatal death. A metabolic difference likely related to glucose handling led to the smaller body size and distinct composition for BKKO mice, suggesting a diversion of energy supplies from growth to fat storage.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

Survival and growth of C57BL/6J mice lacking the BK channel,Kcnma1: lower adult body weight occurs together with higher body fat

et al. 2017

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“…Breeding efficiency is often hampered by problems with reproduction, including pre-weaning pup mortality. In a previous study [2] we found a total mortality rate (calculated as percentage of entire litters being lost before weaning at around 21 days) of 32% for C57BL/6 and 20% for BALB/c, two of the most common strains of laboratory mice. However, reported mortality rates vary greatly; from nearly 0 to 50% in scientific studies of C57BL/6 mice [3–5] compared to 13% reported by a commercial breeder [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Laboratory Mouse Females that Lose Their Litters Behave Differently around Parturition?

et al. 2016

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Efficiency in laboratory mouse breeding is hampered by poor reproductive performance, including the loss of entire litters shortly after birth. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood and establishing the cause of death in laboratory mouse pups can be complicated. Newborn mouse pups are generally hidden in nests, dead pups are often eaten by the female, and the widespread practice of leaving periparturient females undisturbed complicates inspection, which may delay the discovery of pup loss. In order to efficiently prevent problems with litter loss, it is important to find key factors for survival. We investigated differences in periparturient behavior between female laboratory mice whose pups survived until weaning and females whose entire litters were lost. Video recordings of 82 primiparous females of the C57BL/6 strain or knockouts with C57BL/6 background were used. The mice were observed from 24 h before until 24 h after parturition and female behaviors coded using a pre-established ethogram. The relationship between behavior and survival was analyzed using logistic models, where litter survival was regressed on the proportion of 30-s observations with at least one occurrence of the behavior. We found that females with surviving litters performed more nest building behavior during the last 24 h before parturition (p = 0.004) and spent less time outside the nest during the entire observation period (p = 0.001). Increased litter survival was also associated with more passive maternal behaviors and the female ignoring still pups less. Females that lost their litters performed more parturition-related behaviors, suggesting prolonged labor. The results indicate that maternal behavior plays a significant role in laboratory mouse pup survival. Complications at parturition also contribute to litter mortality.

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“…Two females of each treatment group destroyed their litters within 4 days of giving birth, and some pup mortality of unknown cause was observed over lactation. Such pup mortality is typical in captive breeding mice (Weber et al ., ) and the change in litter size over lactation did not differ significantly between the groups (Fig. b; Difference between treatments: F 1,19 = 1.04, P = 0.32; interaction between treatment and time: F 9,171 = 0.51, P = 0.57).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to a novel male during late pregnancy influences subsequent growth of offspring during lactation

Gale

Gibson

Brooks

et al. 2013

J of Evolutionary Biology

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In mammals, allocation to reproduction can either be primed or suppressed in relation to cues from other individuals. Some conspecifics (e.g. potential mates) may enhance an individual's ability to reproduce but others may have a detrimental effect on reproductive success. One widely studied response to conspecific cues, the 'Bruce effect', occurs when pregnant females abort their pregnancies after exposure to a novel male. It has been suggested that this response has evolved as a counter-tactic to the threat of infanticide posed by novel males. In some species, like mice, pregnancy termination will only occur if females are exposed to the unfamiliar male during a brief critical period early in pregnancy, which is surprising considering that an unfamiliar male threatens infanticide whenever present, and in particular near to birth. We demonstrate that female mice experiencing novel males during late pregnancy also alter their investment in progeny, but in a more subtle manner than previously observed. Females exposed to an unfamiliar male during late pregnancy give birth to offspring of a comparable weight to those produced by females exposed to the paternal male, but these offspring grow more slowly over lactation. As a consequence, offspring from these females weigh less at weaning. Modification of their growth trajectory, however, allows these offspring to catch up to normal weights by adulthood. Thus, cues of unfamiliar males, and possibly their associated threat of infanticide, can produce more wide-ranging effects on maternal investment than previously recognized.

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Influence of Strain and Parity on the Risk of Litter Loss in Laboratory Mice

Cited by 39 publications

References 34 publications

Survival and growth of C57BL/6J mice lacking the BK channel,Kcnma1: lower adult body weight occurs together with higher body fat

Survival and growth of C57BL/6J mice lacking the BK channel,Kcnma1: lower adult body weight occurs together with higher body fat

Do Laboratory Mouse Females that Lose Their Litters Behave Differently around Parturition?

Exposure to a novel male during late pregnancy influences subsequent growth of offspring during lactation

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