Reproductive Features of the Russian Vole in Laboratory Breeding.

Abstract

Reproductive features of newly bred Russian voles (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis)as a laboratory animal were studied. This species is a copulatory ovulator, and most couples copulated 6 to 16 h after pairing. The gestation period varied from 18 to 22 days (mean ± SD: 20.6 ± 0.9, n=72), and the average litter size was 4.6 ± 1.9 (n=125). Compared with the litter size at the first parturition (3.6 ± 1.6, n=72), the litter size in the subsequent parturitions increased to 5.9 ± 1.4 (n=53). The animals exhibited postpartum estrus, and repeated pregnancy accompanied with suckling pups and parturition continuously in the laboratory condition unlike other vole species. In view of their complex stomach and good proliferation, the Russian voles were evaluated as a good laboratory animal, especially as a model animal for ruminant studies. Key words: continuous pregnancy, Microtus rossiaemeridionalis, reproductive features large domestic ruminants in the fields of animal science and veterinary medicine. Breeding in the laboratory has been successfully performed for several field voles, such as the common vole (M. arvalis) [16], Japanese field vole (M. montebelli) [6,7], prairie vole (M. ochrogaster) [25], tundra vole (M. oeconomus) [5], meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus) [4], and montane vole (M. pinetorum) [17]. In this paper we examine the reproductive features of the Russian vole, M. rossiaemeridionalis which has been newly bred and

Μελέτη των φυλογενετικών σχέσεων των χρωμοσωματικών φυλών του υπόγειου σκαπτοποντικού Microtus thomasi με κυτταρογενετικές και μοριακές μεθόδους

“…Στο γένος Microtus έχουν γίνει λίγες μόνο προσπάθειες διασταυρώσεων στο εργαστήριο είτε μεταξύ ατόμων διαφορετικών καρυομορφών του ίδιου είδους (Widayati et al 2003, Galleni et al 1994) είτε μεταξύ ατόμων στενά συγγενικών ειδών (Golenishchev et al 2002, Lyapunova et al 1990). Η καρυοτυπική ποικιλότητα εντός ενός είδους θεωρήθηκε από πολλούς ερευνητές ως ειδογένεση σε εξέλιξη (Mazurok et al 2001, Mercer et al 1992, Modi 1987, Meyer et al 1985.…”