Two high-fertility mouse lines show differences in component fertility traits after long-term selection
Marion Spitschak A , Martina Langhammer B , Falk Schneider C , Ulla Renne B and Jens Vanselow A DA Forschungsbereich Molekularbiologie, Forschungsinstitut für die Biologie landwirtschaftlicher Nutztiere (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
B Forschungsbereich Genetik und Biometrie, FBN, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
C Forschungsbereich Fortpflanzungsbiologie, FBN, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
D Corresponding author. Email: vanselow@fbn-dummerstorf.de
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19(7) 815-821 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD07009
Submitted: 12 January 2007 Accepted: 25 May 2007 Published: 8 August 2007
Abstract
Two selected high-fertility mouse lines, namely FL1 and FL2, and a non-selected control (Fzt:DU), all derived from the same genetic pool, were analysed as an animal model for polytocous species to elucidate the effects of long-term selection and to identify relevant component traits that may be responsible for fertility performance. The index trait used for breeding selection was largely increased by 104% and 142% in the FL1 and FL2 lines, respectively, resulting in an average litter size of 17.3 pups and 18.7 pups per litter in the FL1 and FL2 lines, respectively, compared with a litter size of 11.0 pups per litter in the control (Fzt:DU). In addition, different component fertility traits were analysed in females of all three lines at different stages of the oestrous cycle and pregnancy. In conclusion: (1) early embryonic development was accelerated in the FL1 and FL2 lines compared with control; (2) plasma progesterone levels were not correlated with fertility performance; (3) a largely increased ovulation number (i.e. number of corpora lutea) was responsible for high prolificacy in both lines; however, (4) the number of ova shed, as well as the rate of loss of ova and pre- and postimplantation conceptuses, was very different in the FL1 and FL2 lines, suggesting that different genetic components may be responsible for the high prolificacy in both high-fertility lines.
Additional keywords: blastocyst, embryo, fetal mortality rate, litter size, morula, oestrous cycle.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Veronica Schreiter, Sonja Alm, Swanhild Rodewald, and Karin Ullerich for excellent technical assistance.
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