PRE-MATERNAL ISOLATION EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOUR AND ENDOCRINE FUNCTION OF OFFSPRING

1969 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Sackler ◽  
A. S. Weltman ◽  
R. Schwartz ◽  
P. Steinglass
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
The Body ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Isolation Stress ◽  
Developmental Growth ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT This report was designed to determine combined effects of maternal endocrine imbalances and abnormal behaviour due to prolonged isolation stress of female mice on the behaviour, developmental growth rate and endocrine function of their offspring. Sixty female albino mice averaging 19 g were divided equally into isolated and control groups. The isolated females were housed singly; control females were maintained in groups of 2 mice per cage. After observation of behavioural and physiological effects characteristic of isolation stress in the test mice, all isolated and control mice were mated after a 6½ month experimental, isolation period. No differences were observed in fertility and fecundity of the two groups of mothers. Analyses of developmental growth rates of the litters of the isolated versus control mothers showed significantly lower body weights in the test offspring at 3 and 4 weeks of age. The body weights of the female offspring remained significantly lower from the 4th to 11th weeks. The effects on the body weights of the male offspring declined and were no longer statistically significant at the 5th to 11 weeks. Locomotor activity at 4½ and 8 weeks of age was markedly or significantly higher in the male and female mice from isolated mothers. Tail-blood samples taken prior to autopsy at 5 and 11 weeks of age revealed significant decreases in the total leukocyte and eosinophil counts of both sexes. At the two ages, the absolute and relative spleen and thymus weights of the male and female offspring were markedly and/or significantly lower than the values observed in counterpart young from control females. Significant decreases were also observed in the absolute gonadal organ weights of both sexes at 11 weeks of age. The various data indicated inhibited growth rates, heightened locomotor activity and evasiveness, as well as evidence of increased adrenocortical function in the offspring from test mothers. The gonadal weight decreases suggested retarded gonadal development. Further studies using split-litter techniques are required to differentiate the effects of prenatal endocrine imbalances versus postnatal maternal influence (i. e., nursing care) on the offspring.

Body mass and attractivity of female offspring are negatively affected by food restriction of meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) dams during lactation

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (12-13) ◽  
pp. 1847-1868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramona M. Sabau ◽  
Lyndsey Pierson ◽  
Michael H. Ferkin
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Food Restriction ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
The Body ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
And Control

The environment experienced by pups during lactation (nutrition and maternal behaviour) can contribute not only to sexual development, but also to individual differences in offspring sexual behaviour. We tested the hypothesis that female offspring of meadow vole dams (Microtus pennsylvanicus) that were 30% food restricted (FR) during days 1–7 of lactation (FR 1–7), days 8–14 of lactation (FR 8–14), or days 15–21 of lactation (FR 15–21) show negative effects on their food intake, growth, and the three components of sexual behaviour (attractivity, proceptivity and receptivity) as compared with female offspring of control dams. With the exception of age 29 days or age 34 days, the body weights of female offspring of FR 1–7 dams and FR 8–14 dams between days 21 and 48 were lower than the body weights of female offspring of FR 15–21 dams and those of control dams. Female offspring of FR 1–7 dams maintained a lower body weight than the other female offspring throughout the study. Female offspring of FR 8–14 and FR 15–21 dams produced odours that were less attractive to males than odours produced by those of FR 1–7 and control dams. Female offspring of FR dams and control dams did not differ in their measures of proceptivity and receptivity. However, the total amount of time allocated for copulation by males was shorter for those males that were paired with female offspring of FR 1–7 dams than it was for those that were paired with the female offspring of FR 8–14, FR15–21, and control dams. The results of this study, coupled with those found in a study conducted on the male offspring of FR dams, indicate that for female offspring days 1–7 and for male offspring days 8–14 of lactation are the time periods during which food restriction of dams had the greatest impact on deficits in sexual behaviour and body mass in meadow voles.

METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE ASPECTS OF THE WHIRLER MUTATION IN MALE MICE

1970 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-358
Author(s):  
A. Stanley Weltman ◽  
Arthur M. Sackler
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Metabolic Rates ◽  
Heterozygous Female ◽  
Endocrine Organ ◽  
General Body ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Seminal Vesicle Weight ◽  
Eosinophil Counts

ABSTRACT Body weight, metabolic rate, locomotor activity and alterations in endocrine organ activity were noted in recessive homozygous male whirler mice and the phenotypically »normal« heterozygotes. Representative populations of the two types were studied at different age levels. In general, body weights of the whirler mice were consistently and significantly lower. Open-field locomotion studies similarly indicated heightened locomotor activity. Total leukocyte and eosinophil counts were either markedly or significantly lower in the homozygous vs. heterozygous whirler groups. Evaluation of relative organ weights showed significantly increased adrenal weights in whirler mice sacrificed at 14 weeks and 11 months of age. These changes were accompanied by involution of the thymus. Thus, the varied data indicate persistent increased metabolism and adrenocortical activity during the life-span of the whirler mice. Seminal vesicle weight decreases in the whirler males at 11 months suggest lower gonadal function. The findings are in accord with previous studies of alterations in metabolic rates and endocrine function of homozygous whirler vs. heterozygous female mice.

Concentrations of glucose, albumin, inorganic phosphate and sodium in the blood of beef calves at 2 ½ months of age and their relationships with subsequent weight gain

1980 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Rowlands
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Inorganic Phosphate ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Other ◽  
Growth Depression ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Body Weights

SummaryBlood samples were taken at 9, 10 and 11 weeks of age from 230 male Hereford × Friesian calves, the progeny of 12 Hereford bulls. Concentrations of blood glucose, serum albumin, inorganic phosphate and sodium were measured and correlated with body weights and growth rates until slaughter at 19½ months of age.Correlations between growth rates and glucose concentrations (0·44) and between growth rates and albumin concentrations (0·38) were observed until 4 months of age. Similar correlations between body weights and blood glucose or albumin concentrations persisted until 6 months of age. By 10 months, however, the correlations had begun to decline, and by slaughter they had become insignificant.Correlations between growth rates and inorganic phosphate or sodium concentrations were smaller, and also decreased with age.The effect of hypoglycaemia on growth rate was compared with the effect of enzootic pneumonia. Although the 10% of calves with the lowest glucose concentrations were growing 24% more slowly than the other calves at the time of sampling, this growth depression was not related to pneumonia, and they subsequently made up for most of the early loss of growth.Three blood samples were also taken from 22 Hereford bulls. No significant correlations were observed between the blood composition of the bulls and the body weights or weight gains of their progeny.

scholarly journals PUBERAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGERIAN DWARF SHEEP

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
B. I. Orji ◽  
J. Steinbach
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
The Body ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Physiological Age ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Pituitary Glands ◽  
Ram Lambs

Eleven ram lambs, all born between June and July (rainy season) were slaughtered at four age groups — 75, 100, 125 and 150 days. The body weights of animals prior to slaughter, the weights of the testes, the epididymis, the vesicular glands, the ampullae, the adrenals, the thyroids and the pituitary glands were determined and subjected to a step-wise multiple regression analysis using age or body weight as the independent variable. The weights of the reproductive organs – testes, epididymides, ampullae, vesicular glands - showed significantly higher correlation with the body weight than with the age, thus emphasizing the greater importance of the physiological age over the chronological age in the development of the body organs. The highest growth rate of the organs of the reproductive tract occurred during puberty and thus coincided with the enhanced endocrine function observed in ram lambs at this stage.

Overbrowsing, and decline of a population of the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, in Victoria. II. Population condition

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
The Body ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Tract Disease

Juvenile and sub-adult koalas from a population at Walkerville, Victoria, which was severely defoliating its preferred food trees, had significantly lower growth rates than animals from a population on French Island, Victoria. Mature males from Walkerville were significantly smaller than French Island males in most age classes. There was no significant difference between the body weights of mature females of the 2 populations. Haematological tests on the females showed that nutritionally induced anaemia was significant in the Walkerville animals by Jan. 1981. Heavy tick loads probably exacerbated the effects of the food shortage on the animals' condition, but were not the cause of the anaemia. The low fertility rate of the Walkerville females appeared to be due to their poor nutritional state and to reproductive tract disease.

scholarly journals A Review of Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy and Impact on the Offspring through Development: Evidence from Animal Models of Over- and Undernutrition

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6926 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Odhiambo ◽  
Christopher L. Pankey ◽  
Adel B. Ghnenis ◽  
Stephen P. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
University Of Wyoming ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Obesogenic Diet ◽  
And Control

Similarities in offspring phenotype due to maternal under- or over-nutrition during gestation have been observed in studies conducted at University of Wyoming. In these studies, ewes were either nutrient-restricted (NR) from early to mid-gestation, or fed an obesogenic diet (MO) from preconception through term. Offspring necropsies occurred at mid-gestation, late-gestation, and after parturition. At mid gestation, body weights of NR fetuses were ~30% lighter than controls, whereas MO fetuses were ~30% heavier than those of controls. At birth, lambs born to NR, MO, and control ewes exhibited similar weights. This was a consequence of accelerated fetal growth rates in NR ewes, and reduced fetal growth rates in MO ewes in late gestation, when compared to their respective controls. These fetal growth patterns resulted in remarkably similar effects of increased susceptibility to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and glucose intolerance in offspring programmed mostly during fetal stages of development. These data provide evidence that maternal under- and over-nutrition similarly induce the development of the same cadre of physical and metabolic problems in postnatal life.

Early prenatal treatment of ewes with testosterone completely masculinises external genitalia of female offspring but has no effects on early body weight changes

1986 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Tarttelin
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
External Genitalia ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Prenatal Treatment ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Single Male ◽  
Affect Body Weight ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
And Control ◽  
Measurement Period

Abstract. Treatment of pregnant ewes from day 20 of gestation with 100 mg implants of crystalline testosterone did not cause masculinisation of genitalia or affect growth rates of female lambs. Prenatal treatment from day 20 of gestation with testosterone propionate (1.2 g in divided doses for four weeks) or testosterone cypionate (600 mg in 3 doses over three weeks) completely masculinised the external genitalia of female lambs producing a ventral penis and scrotum with no external vaginal opening: ovaries and uteri were normal. Single male lambs were significantly heavier than female lambs during a 16 week measurement period, but masculinised female lambs were not different from controls. In the twin lamb groups, there were no differences between male and female or treated and control lambs. Body weights of castrated male lambs born as twins were not different from entire controls. It was concluded that testosterone treatment of developing lambs from 20 to 65 days of gestation produces complete masculinisation of external genitalia of female lambs but does not affect body weight during the first 16 weeks of age.

Developmental Effects of Seizures: Role of Malnutrition

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-200
Author(s):  
Claude G. Wasterlain
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Period ◽  
The Body ◽  
Brain Cells ◽  
Neonatal Seizures ◽  
Developmental Effects ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Weight One ◽  
And Control ◽  
Electroconvulsive Seizures

Eighty-eight rats were paired at birth according to sex and weight. One member of each pair received two electroconvulsive seizures a day during the neonatal period (days 2 to 11). Access of its control littermate to the mother was restricted so that the body weights of any two paired rats never diverged by more than 2 gm on any day of life, and were usually within one half gram of each other. This guaranteed that the nutritional status of seizuretreated and control animals was similar throughout development. On day 30 of life, seizure-treated rats had smaller brains (-56 mg, P < .05) and reduced numbers of brain cells (-13.106, P < .05) compared to their control littermates. It was concluded that the reduction of brain DNA brought about by neonatal seizures was not simply caused by malnutrition of seizure-treated animals.

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