Low temperatures during early development influence subsequent maternal and reproductive function in adult female mice

Benderlioglu, Zeynep; Eish, Jenny; Weil, Zachary M.; Nelson, Randy J.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2005.11.001

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although dead pups are often consumed by their mothers this does not necessarily imply that the female actively kills them [1]. While some studies exist that tested effects of prenatal heat exposure on later reproductive performance and pup growth after weaning [4, 5], there is only few research investigating effects of ambient temperature on the energy demands of lactating mothers and how this affects survival of pre-weaned young [6–9], particularly in small altricial mammals producing larger litters [10–12]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ambient temperature affects postnatal litter size reduction in golden hamsters

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundTo better understand how different ambient temperatures during lactation affect survival of young, we studied patterns of losses of pups in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) at different ambient temperatures in the laboratory, mimicking temperature conditions in natural habitats. Golden hamsters produce large litters of more than 10 young but are also known to wean fewer pups at the end of lactation than they give birth to. We wanted to know whether temperature affects litter size reductions and whether the underlying causes of pup loss were related to maternal food (gross energy) intake and reproductive performance, such as litter growth. For that, we exposed lactating females to three different ambient temperatures and investigated associations with losses of offspring between birth and weaning.ResultsOverall, around one third of pups per litter disappeared, obviously consumed by the mother. Such litter size reductions were greatest at 30 °C, in particular during the intermediate postnatal period around peak lactation. Furthermore, litter size reductions were generally higher in larger litters. Maternal gross energy intake was highest at 5 °C suggesting that mothers were not limited by milk production and might have been able to raise a higher number of pups until weaning. This was further supported by the fact that the daily increases in litter mass as well as in the individual pup body masses, a proxy of mother’s lactational performance, were lower at higher ambient temperatures.ConclusionsWe suggest that ambient temperatures around the thermoneutral zone and beyond are preventing golden hamster females from producing milk at sufficient rates. Around two thirds of the pups per litter disappeared at high temperature conditions, and their early growth rates were significantly lower than at lower ambient temperatures. It is possible that these losses are due to an intrinsic physiological limitation (imposed by heat dissipation) compromising maternal energy intake and milk production.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ambient temperature affects postnatal litter size reduction in golden hamsters

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They were mated after a 10‐day‐long acclimation period with age‐matched F 0 male mice of the same strain at The Ohio State University facilities. These animals were part of a larger study that examined perinatal stress and maternal function, reproductive status and outcome, including litter composition (Benderlioglu, Eish, Weil, & Nelson, ), food intake, total activity, anxiety‐ and depressive‐like behaviors, and partner preference (Benderlioglu & Nelson unpublished data). The results reported here pertain to maternal aggression and FA in female progeny (F 1 ) of the 24 dams (F 0 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…). This cross‐fostering procedure was used to partially control for the potential effect of low temperatures on maternal care by F 0 dams (see Benderlioglu et al., ). GL and L mothers were maintained in low temperatures during lactation as part of the experimental design, precluding any cross‐fostering of their pups to “standard temperature' dams on Day 2.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low temperatures during ontogeny increase fluctuating asymmetry and reduce maternal aggression in the house mouse, Mus musculus

Benderlioglu

Dow

2017

Ethology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Maternal aggression is behavior displayed by post-partum lactating female mice toward unfamiliar conspecifics, presumably as a defense against infanticide. A variety of perinatal stressors can impair maternal care in adulthood. Previous studies on associations between developmental perturbations and maternal aggression have produced mixed results. To address this issue, we employed a proxy for developmental instability, fluctuating asymmetry (FA) to further elucidate the relationship between low temperature stress and maternal aggression. FA, small, random deviations from perfect symmetry in bilateral characters is used as a quantitative measure of stress during ontogeny. Dams were either maintained in standard laboratory temperatures (21 ± 2 °C), or cold temperatures (8 ± 2 °C) during gestation. During lactation, their progeny either remained in the temperature condition in which they were gestated or were transferred to the other temperature condition. Four individual measures of FA, a composite of these measures, and three measures of maternal aggression were assessed in the female progeny in adulthood. Exposure to low temperatures during both pre- and early post-natal development increased composite FA and reduced all three measures of maternal aggression compared to controls. Exposure to low temperatures during the pre- or postnatal period alone did not induce either high FA or altered maternal aggression. Certain measures of FA and nest defense were negatively correlated. Our results suggest that low temperatures experienced during gestation and lactation may have important fitness costs. Low maternal aggression towards infanticidal conspecifics is likely to limit the number of offspring surviving into adulthood. Overall, FA appears to be a reliable indicator of chronic developmental stress with implications for fitness.

show abstract

“…Prenatal stress disturbs the hormonal milieu in pregnant dams and disrupts the HPA axis function and its response to stress in both dams and their offspring [38]. Moreover, earlier reports indicated that reproductive parameters, including litter size, maternal responsiveness to the young, and offspring survival were adversely affected in adult female rodents exposed to low temperatures during both gestation and lactation [39]. When female rodents were kept in low temperatures during lactation only, their reproductive performance in adulthood was less impaired than that of the animals maintained in low temperatures during both pre-and postnatal, or prenatal development alone [39].…”

Section: Fa-sdmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, earlier reports indicated that reproductive parameters, including litter size, maternal responsiveness to the young, and offspring survival were adversely affected in adult female rodents exposed to low temperatures during both gestation and lactation [39]. When female rodents were kept in low temperatures during lactation only, their reproductive performance in adulthood was less impaired than that of the animals maintained in low temperatures during both pre-and postnatal, or prenatal development alone [39]. Future studies will benefit from employing experiments with large sample sizes to also account for litter losses due to aborting or infanticidal dams, prevalent in low temperature studies.…”

Section: Fa-sdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neonatal exposure to short days and low temperatures blunts stress response and yields low fluctuating asymmetry in Siberian hamsters

Benderlioglu

Dow

Pyter

2007

Physiology & Behavior

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) refers to small, non-directional deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry in morphological characters. Individuals with low FA presumably either developed in a relatively stable environment and/or were better able to buffer against developmental stressors. The present study investigated the effects of seasonal factors measured by day length and ambient temperature manipulations on the development of bilateral characters and concomitant changes in stress responses. Siberian hamsters were exposed to either long days (16 h of light per day) or short days (8 h of light per day) combined with either standard temperatures (21 ± 2°C) or low temperatures (8 ± 2°C) on the day of birth until weaning. Cortisol concentrations at baseline and following acute restraint stress, and FA values were measured in adulthood. Females reared in winter-like conditions with short day lengths and low temperatures had low FA and low cortisol concentrations following restraint stress compared to other females. Females reared in long day lengths and standard temperatures had the highest rate of increase in cortisol concentrations after restraint among other female groups. No group effects were observed in males regarding day length and temperature manipulations. Baseline and post-restraint cortisol concentrations were higher in females than males for all groups except in animals reared in short day lengths and low temperatures. Our results suggest that winter-like conditions during neonatal period evoke hyposensitivity to stress in adult females and this blunted response to stress is a key factor in achieving ideal growth patterns.

show abstract

Low temperatures during early development influence subsequent maternal and reproductive function in adult female mice

Cited by 9 publications

References 50 publications

Ambient temperature affects postnatal litter size reduction in golden hamsters

Ambient temperature affects postnatal litter size reduction in golden hamsters

Low temperatures during ontogeny increase fluctuating asymmetry and reduce maternal aggression in the house mouse, Mus musculus

Neonatal exposure to short days and low temperatures blunts stress response and yields low fluctuating asymmetry in Siberian hamsters

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About