Abstract
Handling of pregnant C57BL/6J mice (twice daily for 5 min throughout gestation) resulted in increased size of litter, decreased length of gestation, and decreased weight of offspring. In addition, this treatment had differential effects upon the behavior of male and female offspring when they were tested at 45 and 100 days of age. Increased litter size could be attributed to the effects of maternal handling reducing the number of fetal resorptions occurring normally in nonhandled mice. Decreased gestational length and decreased weight of offspring was associated with increased litter size. Handling did not have a differential effect on the survival of male or female offspring. The hypothesis is suggested that the endocrinological response to prenatal treatment of the mammalian maternal host may have differential effects on male and female offspring, and affects aspects of her reproductive physiology.
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