Physical and behavioral sequelae of low birthweight in spiny mice (<i>Acomys cahirinus</i>)

Porter, Richard H.; Makin, Jennifer W.; Matochik, John A.

doi:10.1002/dev.420190507

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…They can produce litters of one to four pups two to three times per year. There is a wide range of body masses of the pups with a mean of 6.4 g on day 2 (Porter, Makin & Matochik, 1986). Pups start to consume solid food from day 2 to 3 after parturition and weaning occurs at 2–3 weeks (D'Udine, Gerosa & Drewett, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of weaning time on the growth rate and food intake of the spiny mouse pup

et al. 2009

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The spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus produces well-developed pups although it is a relatively small mammal (45 g). We envisioned two opposing hypotheses on the effect of early weaning on the growth rate of pups. The first predicts little effect since the increase in energy intake of dams above non-reproducing females is relatively low, suggesting that pups consume a large portion of their energy as solid food, and the pups are very well developed at birth. The second predicts a substantial effect since the 'index of precociality', that is the energy intake for maintenance of a pup as a proportion of that predicted for a rodent of its body mass, falls within values for altricial rodents, suggesting an extended maternal dependence of the young. To test these hypotheses, we measured the growth rate and food intake of pups weaned after either 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. Only three of 12 pups weaned after 7 days survived and, consequently, the latter hypothesis was supported. All pups weaned at 14-28 days survived. There was a significant decrease in growth rate during the first day after weaning in pups weaned at 7, 14 and 21 days but not after 28 days, suggesting that pups did not require parental care by day 28. Peak growth rate in pups weaned at 14 days occurred in the second week but occurred in the third week in pups weaned at 21 and 28 days. In spite of these differences, pups in all treatments had similar body mass at 64 days, indicating compensatory growth. We concluded that pups of A. cahirinus are precocial from a morphological aspect in that they are well developed at birth but altricial from a nutritional aspect in that they require extended maternal support.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of weaning time on the growth rate and food intake of the spiny mouse pup

et al. 2009

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Breeding of the Cairo Spiny Mouse (Acomys cahirinus) in Laboratory Conditions

Shkorbatova,

Veshchitskii,

Mikhalkin

et al. 2024

J Evol Biochem Phys

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The precocial mouse, Acomys cahirinus

Brunjes

1990

Psychobiology

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Acomys cahirinus (the "spiny mouse") is a member ofthe same rodent subfamily as the laboratory rat and mouse. Acomys differs from the laboratory species in several ways, including the fact that it is adapted to a semiarid lifestyle and is born after a long gestation with functional sensory and motor systems. The existing, and quite dispersed, literature on the anatomy, physiology, and behavior of Acomys is briefly reviewed.Acomys cahirinus (calIed the "spiny mouse" because of the bristly fur covering the rump area) has been used increasingly in psychobiological studies. Acomys, the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus), and mouse (Mus musculus) are all members ofthe same rodent subfamily (Murinae). However, the species have quite different adaptations, physiologies, and behaviors. Perhaps the most striking differences are in their early life histories. Acomys, a precocial mammal, is born after a relatively long gestation (39 days using the day after conception as Embryonie Day I, or EI) with open ears and eyes and quite sophisticated sensory and motor capabilities. The rat and mouse are altricial species: they have shorter gestations (22 and 20 days, respectively), larger litter sizes, and are born considerably less mature (Figure 1). The result is an almost unique opportunity to compare developmental processes in phylogenetically related yet ontogenetically divergent species (see Dieterlen, 1963, for a discussion of uniforrnity in developmental patterns within the mammalian group). Comparative studies of the species might lead to a better understanding of the ways in which developmental patterns can be modified, and how the functional abilities of species change as a result. The following review briefly examines what is known about Acomys on evolutionary, ethological, neurological, and behaviorallevels (Dieterlen, 1961;D'Udine & Alleva, 1988). PHYLOGENY SystematicsLittle agreement exists on the exact number of species contained in the genus Acomys. While Dieterlen (1963) suggested there may be as many as 27 species, Corbet and Hili (1986) listed 9

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Physical and behavioral sequelae of low birthweight in spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus)

Cited by 3 publications

References 16 publications

Effect of weaning time on the growth rate and food intake of the spiny mouse pup

Effect of weaning time on the growth rate and food intake of the spiny mouse pup

Breeding of the Cairo Spiny Mouse (Acomys cahirinus) in Laboratory Conditions

The precocial mouse, Acomys cahirinus

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