Food resource allocation patterns in lactating females in a long-term selection experiment for litter size in mice

• Main Authors: Verstegen Martinus WA, Knap Pieter W, Rauw Wendy M, Luiting Petronella
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: BMC 2002-01-01
• Series: Genetics Selection Evolution
• Subjects: mice; litter size; lactation; resource allocation; residual food intake
• Online Access: http://www.gsejournal.org/content/34/1/83
• ISSN: 0999-193X; 1297-9686

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Resource allocation patterns, as quantified by residual food intake (<it>RFI</it>), and the consequences for offspring development were investigated during lactation in 96 females of a mouse line selected for 104 generations for high litter size at birth (S-line) and in 87 females of a non-selected control line (C-line). Litters of 45 C-line dams (Cs) and 48 S-line dams (Ss) were standardised (s) at birth; other dams (ns) supported total number of pups born (Cns and Sns, respectively). <it>RFI </it>during lactation was significantly lower in Sns-dams than in C-line dams and Sns-dams. After weaning Sns-dams seemed to be able to restore the negative resource situation. Sns-pups were about 25% less mature than Cns-pups at all times. Maturity was similar for Cs- and Ss-pups from 2 d in lactation on, and about 18% and 53% higher than Cns- and Sns-pups. The pre-weaning mortality rate was significantly higher in Sns-litters (35.6 ± 2.76) than in Cns-litters (4.95 ± 2.23). The results suggest that S-line dams allocated considerably more resources to maintenance of offspring than C-line dams. This was insufficient to provide the offspring with an adequate amount of resources, resulting in reduced pup development and increased pre-weaning mortality rates.</p>