House Mouse Mus Musculus Domesticus Research Articles

Behavioural and physiological characteristics of standard and chromosomally divergent populations of house mice from the Orkney archipelago (Scotland)

House mice Mus musculus domesticus (Schwartz and Schwartz, 1943) from Orkney are closely related on the basis of mandible morphology and allozyme variation. In three of the twenty islands where house mice occur populations have diverged from the standard 2n=40 karyotype through fixation of Robertsonian (Rb) chromosomal mutation.

Maternal investment, sex-differential prospects, and the sex ratio in wild house mice

In a population of first-generation offspring from wild-caught house mice (Mus musculus domesticus), previous evidence suggested that male fitness is more strongly affected by an increase in body weight than female fitness. This paper shows that in these mice the young are weaned at heavier weights the smaller the litter and the better the maternal body condition. These effects persisted into adulthood and were less pronounced in female young. However, contrary to expectation from conventional sex ratio theory, maternal condition and litter size had no detectable effect on sex ratios. Also, litter size did not affect sex ratios in two populations of laboratory-kept, wild-caught western (M. m. domesticus) and eastern house mice (M. m. musculus). Wild house mice, therefore, appear not to adaptively manipulate the sex ratio of offspring. It is argued that this absence of sex ratio trends might not be maladaptive, but rather that models currently used to predict sex ratio trends in rodents may not be valid.

Evolution of the chromosomal races ofMus musculus domesticusin the Rhaetian Alps: the roles of whole-arm reciprocal translocation and zonal raciation

The evolution of ten Robertsonian (Rb) races of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) in the Rhaetian Alps of northern Italy and southern Switzerland is reconsidered. The mechanisms of centric fusion, zonal raciation and, for the first time, whole-arm reciprocal translocation (WART), are used in this non-mathematical approach to produce a phylogenetic tree (using chromosome fusions as characters) with the smallest number of steps. The shortest tree that we found (16 steps) is at least two to nine mutations shorter than previously published models. Three other trees (17 or 18 steps) are also considered, since they are geographically more sensible. In general, these four scenarios correspond more closely to the present distributions of the ten Rb races than previous trees. Our results suggest that zonal raciation and WARTs play an important role in the evolution of Rb races of the house mouse.

Evolution of the chromosomal races of Mus musculus domesticus in the Rhaetian Alps: the roles of whole-arm reciprocal translocation and zonal raciation

The evolution of ten Robertsonian (Rb) races of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) in the Rhaetian Alps of northern Italy and southern Switzerland is reconsidered. The mechanisms of centric fusion, zonal raciation and, for the first time, whole-arm reciprocal translocation (WART), are used in this non-mathematical approach to produce a phylogenetic tree (using chromosome fusions as characters) with the smallest number of steps. The shortest tree that we found (16 steps) is at least two to nine mutations shorter than previously published models. Three other trees (17 or 18 steps) are also considered, since they are geographically more sensible. In general, these four scenarios correspond more closely to the present distributions of the ten Rb races than previous trees. Our results suggest that zonal raciation and WARTs play an important role in the evolution of Rb races of the house mouse.

DEVELOPMENTAL STABILITY, FITNESS, AND TRAIT SIZE IN LABORATORY HYBRIDS BETWEEN EUROPEAN SUBSPECIES OF THE HOUSE MOUSE.

The effects of hybridization on developmental stability and size of tooth characters were investigated in intersubspecific crosses between random-bred wild strains of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus). Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and trait size were compared within and between parental, F1 , backcross, and F2 hybrid groups. The relationship between FA and reproductive fitness within the F1 hybrids was also studied. The results indicated that both FA and character size levels differed significantly between the two subspecies. The F1 hybrids and the recombined groups (backcrosses and F2 hybrids) showed heterosis for both parameters. No significant differences in the FA of fertile and sterile F1 hybrid individuals were found. Comparison of the FA levels obtained in this study with those found in wild populations from the hybrid zone in Denmark showed that the levels of FA were lower in laboratory-bred samples than in the wild populations. This study provides further evidence that, in hybrids, the developmental processes underlying most of the morphological traits we studied benefit from a heterotic effect, despite the genomic incompatibilities between the two European house mice revealed by previous genetical and parasitological studies.

Morphometric variability in karyologically polymorphic populations of the wild Mus musculus domesticus in Greece

A number of geographically defined Robertsonian (Rb) populations of the wild house mouse Mus musculus domesticus Schwarz and Schwarz, 1943 occurs in several areas of Europe (including Greece) and northern Africa. A multivariate analysis of 26 morphometric characters studied in 6 populations from Greece was performed to detect possible morphological variability in populations having different chromosome number. A morphological polymorphism among all the studied populations was found but this is attributed rather to geographical than to karyotypic relations.

Corticosterone and Interchromosomal Race Discrimination in the House Mouse

We report results of a study on emotional arousal, as reflected by corticosterone variation, following dyadic encounters within and between chromosomal races of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus). Three contiguous chromosomal races from northeast Scotland were analyzed (2n= 32, 2n= 36, 2n= 40). Within-race encounters resulted in similar average corticosterone levels in mice from the three races. For all three races, certain of the between-race encounters resulted in a significant increase in corticosterone relative to those following within-race encounters. These results confirm our previous observations of a differential behavioral treatment of house mice from the same vs from a different chromosomal race, and support our proposition for behavioral discrimination between chromosomal races of this species in northeast Scotland.

The Relationship Between Pregnancy Block and Infanticide in House Mice (Mus Musculus Domesticus) During Lactational Pregnancy

Abstract Recently mated female house mice separated from their mates and exposed to unfamiliar (strange) males often undergo pregnancy disruption. A favored explanation for this phenomenon, known as pregnancy block, is that it has evolved as a female counterresponse to potential infanticide by males. Curiously, pregnancy block is believed not to occur during lactational pregnancy, even though that lactational pregnancy is thought to be common in house mice. We examined the potential for male-induced pregnancy block to occur during lactational pregnancy in female mice after lactation disruption by both male infanticide (Expt 1) and litter removal (Expt 2). Strange males were paired with females that had both recently given birth to a first litter and potentially been reimpregnanted by the original stud male during postpartum estrus. Hence, some of the females' second litters were sired by the stud males and pregnancy block could then be detected as a drop in the delivery rate of such litters among these experimental females relative to control females that were not exposed to strange males. Pairs remained housed together until after a second litter was born. Thus, we were also able to measure the influence of prolonged heterosexual cohabitation on infanticide by strange males towards subsequent litters. If, as some have found, non-sexual contact with a pregnant female suppresses male infanticide, then the importance of male infanticide as an explanation for pregnancy block is further drawn into question. When strange males were introduced to lactating dams approximately one and a half days postpartum (Expt 1), male infanticide effectively halted lactation. However, none of these females subsequently showed pregnancy block. In contrast, when strange males were introduced to dams approximately one day postpartum and lactation was interrupted even earlier (Expt 2), pregnancy block did occur. There was no evidence for a cohabitation-induced reduction of male infanticide in either experiment; most strange males initially categorized as infanticidal subsequently killed females' second litters, provided they had not sired those litters. Despite the lack of cohabitation effects on male infanticide, because pregnancy block may only occur under restricted conditions during lactational pregnancy, the role of male infanticide in shaping the evolution of pregnancy block may be less straightforward than previously thought.

Fluctuating asymmetry in the Mus musculus hybrid zone: a heterotic effect in disrupted co-adapted genomes.

Developmental stability reflects the organism's ability to buffer minor developmental accidents and is often estimated by measuring the fluctuating asymmetry. Either implicitly or explicitly, numerous authors have assumed that developmental stability is correlated with overall fitness. If this is the case, changes in morphological asymmetry across a hybrid zone could be used as a measure of the selection on hybrid genomes. Developmental stability in hybrid populations is theoretically related to the genetic distance between hybridizing taxa, and results from a balance between the stabilizing effect due to increased heterozygosity and the disruptive effect caused by breakdown of genomic co-adaptation. Here we have compared the amount of fluctuating asymmetry across a transect of the hybrid zone between the two European subspecies of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus) in Denmark. For the first time in any natural hybrid zone we found an increased developmental stability in the populations with mixed genomes. Moreover, the apparently beneficial effect of hybridization on the developmental stability of the hybrid mice contrasts with the results of both genetic and parasitological studies which show that hybrid dysgenesis occurs in this zone. Our results suggest that the barrier to gene flow in the Mus musculus hybrid zone may result from the disruption of relatively few gene systems. They also lead us to reassess the relation between developmental stability expressed as fluctuating asymmetry, co-adaptation and overall fitness.

The effect of eye-like schema on shuttling activity of wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus): Context-dependent threatening aspects of the eyespot patterns

The effects of footshock and various light-spot models on the shuttling activity of mice were examined in a passive avoidance situation. It was found that mild footshocks elicited initial exploration followed by an increased tendency to escape from the compartment in which the shocks were administered. An encounter with models, consisting of various numbers of small yellow lights, without footshock did not cause significant differences in shuttling activity. But if the models were paired with footshock, a tendency to explore during the first trial, high readiness to escape, and avoidance learning were found. These were characterized by a temporary increase in number of gate crossings, a decrease in the time spent in the shocked compartment, and a considerable increase in latency to enter the shocked compartment. The most effective model had two horizontally arranged yellow lights, which may share some characteristics with eye-like patterns.

Maternal investment of communally nursing female house mice ( Mus musculus domesticus)

Female house mice ( Mus musculus domesticus) belonging to the same polygynous breeding unit rear their litters communally. This paper analyzes the consequences of communal nursing on the number and weight of offspring produced. The reproductive behaviour of monogamous females was compared to that of females living in polygynous groups, consisting of either two familiar sisters or of two genetically unrelated females (unfamiliar until the age of 7 weeks). The lifetime reproductive success of a female was measured as the total number of offspring weaned during a lifespan of 6 months (standardized as 120 days after mating at the age of 8 weeks). The number of litters produced and average litter size per female did not differ significantly between the 3 groups of females. However, females communally nursing with a sister weaned significantly more young than a monogamously paired female. Those sharing a nest with an unrelated female weaned an intermediate number of offspring. Sharing a communal nest with a sister significantly increased the total mass of offspring weaned in comparison with both monogamous females and unrelated females. Furthermore, communal nests improved the birth weight of the young when compared with young in solitary nests. By cooperative brood care and communal nursing, females improved the weight of the young produced. By having a sister for cooperation, a female futher improved the number of offspring weaned when compared with a female rearing litters in solitary nests, as well as the combined weight of offspring weaned compared with all other females studied.

Evaluation of a nematode (Capillaria hepatica Bancroft, 1893) as a control agent for populations of house mice (Mus musculus domesticus Schwartz and Schwartz, 1943).

Sudden, large-scale infestations of house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) occur irregularly in the cereal-growing regions of Australia, resulting in substantial economic losses. Mathematical modelling has been used to evaluate the use of the liver nematode Capillaria hepatica as a potential agent for the biological control of mouse populations. The models suggest that C. hepatica is unlikely to be successful as a single-release control agent: instead, the parasite would need to be released when it becomes apparent that an outbreak is likely. Stage-structured models, including time delays and seasonal mouse demographic parameters, suggest that the parasite may be successful as a control agent, provided it can be introduced into the mouse population at least one year before an outbreak occurs. The optimum time for introduction is in summer or autumn. Some generalisations of this work are discussed. A parasite which affects fecundity alone is unlikely to be a good control agent, because it will destabilize the host population. Macroparasites may be unable to spread sufficiently rapidly to control sudden rises in vertebrate populations.

Communal nesting patterns in mice implicate MHC genes in kin recognition.

House mice (Mus musculus domesticus) form communal nests and appear to nurse each other's pups indiscriminately. Communal nesting probably functions to reduce infanticide, but it also makes females vulnerable to exploitation if nursing partners fail to provide their fair share of care. Kinship theory predicts that females will preferentially form communal nests with relatives to minimize exploitation and further increase inclusive fitness. Here we provide evidence from seminatural populations that females prefer communal nesting partners that share allelic forms of major histocompatibility complex genes. Such behaviour would lead to the selection of close relatives as communal nesting partners. Although criteria for the demonstration of kin recognition are currently embroiled in controversy, this is the first vertebrate study to meet Grafen's restrictive requirements: discrimination is based on genetic similarity at highly polymorphic loci, incidental correlations due to relatedness are experimentally controlled, and strong reasons exist for expecting the assayed behaviour to be kin-selected.

Sex ratio manipulation in wild house mice: the effect of fetal resorption in relation to the mode of reproduction.

First generation laboratory-born descendants of wild-caught house mice (Mus musculus domesticus Rutty) were bred to produce litters of primipares and of dams that had conceived a second litter either after lactational anestrus or within the postpartum estrus. At the day of birth, pups were sexed and the number of implanted and resorbed embryos was determined to evaluate the influence of mode of reproduction on litter gender composition and its relation to fetal resorption. No significant deviations from an even sex ratio occurred in the sample. The results indicate that primipares produced litters with subnormal dispersion of the gender distribution, but this could not unequivocally be attributed to fetal resorption. No significant bias in the litter gender composition was detectable within litters conceived after lactational anestrus. In contrast, the dispersion of the gender distribution was significantly supernormal in the litters of dams inseminated at postpartum estrus. Within this group, fetal resorption had a significant effect upon the sex ratio, and this relationship was significantly affected by the number of implanted embryos: resorbing dams produced male-biased litters at small and intermediate numbers of implantation sites and female-biased litters when the number of implanted embryos was large. It is argued that this is most likely attributable to sex-selective fetal resorption.

A hybrid zone comprising staggered chromosomal clines in the house mouse ( Mus musculus domesticus )

In the vicinity of John o'Groats (Caithness, Scotland) there is a small karyotypic race of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) characterized by a diploid number of 32 chromosomes, including the metacentrics 4.10, 9.12, 6.13 and 11.14. This race forms a hybrid zone with the standard British race (fully acrocentric chromosomes, 2n = 40). Although hybrid zones normally consist of several (or many) narrow character clines at the same position, this zone is unusual in that the chromosomal clines do not coincide. The cline for arm combination 11.14 is staggered relative to the 6.13 cline and both are separate from the clines for 4.10 and 9.12 (which may or may not coincide). A variety of explanations for the structure of the hybrid zone are discussed. It is possible that this may be a case of 'zonal raciation'.

Distribution of acetylcholinesterase and zinc in the visual cortex of the mouse

The distributions of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and zinc-containing boutons and their cells of origin in the visual cortex of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) are described. The primary visual area is defined by both acetylcholinesterase and zinc staining. The AChE staining pattern is dark in upper layer I and layers IV and VI. It is light in layers II/III and V. The lack of a densely stained layer IV in the secondary visual cortices defines the borders between primary and secondary areas. Large, multipolar AChE-positive neurons are located throughout the cortical layers, but preferentially in layer VI. Dense zinc-positive neuropil in the primary visual cortex is apparent in layer Ib, upper layer II/III, and layers V and VI. Neurons that give rise to zinc-containing boutons are situated in layers II/III and VI. The medial and lateral borders can be distinguished by a bold contrast of staining in lower layer II/III; the secondary areas have more zinc-positive neurons, and the neuropil stains darker. A surprising observation of this study is the disparity between the mouse and rat visual cortex of the AChE staining pattern. Layer V is very light in the mouse, whereas a dark stain has been described in layer V of the rat. Layer VI stains heavily in the mouse while less AChE activity has been observed in layer VI of the rat.

De nouvelles populations robertsoniennes de souris (Mus musculus domesticus) au nord des Alpes

New Robertsonian (Rb) populations of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) carrying different combinations of centric fusions are reported in France, Switzerland, and Germany. In Alsace (France), the diploid number varied from 2n = 38 to 34; four fusions were present, with Rb(4.12) homozygous in all populations whereas Rb(5.10), Rb(5.7), or Rb(10.14) were found to be segregating. In Switzerland, only all-acrocentric mice (2n = 40) were present in Bern while Rb(5.7) and Rb(9.16) occurred in Basel. In the Konstanz locality from southern Germany, all the mice were homozygous for nine Rb fusions: Rb(1.18), Rb(2.5), Rb(3.6), Rb(4.12), Rb(7.15), Rb(8.17), Rb(9.14), Rb(10.11), and Rb(13.16). The phylogenetic relationship of these new Rb populations with those already known is discussed.

Genic differentiation and origin of Robertsonian populations of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus Rutty).

This paper examines the relation between chromosomal and nuclear-gene divergence in 28 wild populations of the house mouse semi-species, Mus musculus domesticus, in Western Europe and North Africa. Besides describing the karyotypes of 15 of these populations and comparing them to those of 13 populations for which such information was already known, it reports the results of an electrophoretic survey of proteins encoded by 34 nuclear loci in all 28 populations. Karyotypic variation in this taxon involves only centric (or Robertsonian) fusions which often differ in arm combination and number between chromosomal races. The electrophoretic analysis showed that the amount of genic variation within Robertsonian (Rb) populations was similar to that for all-acrocentric populations, i.e. bearing the standard karyotype. Moreover, divergence between the two types of populations was extremely low. These results imply that centric fusions in mice have not modified either the level or the nature of genic variability. The genetic similarity between Rb and all-acrocentric populations is not attributed to the persistence of gene flow, since multiple fusions cause marked reproductive isolation. Rather, we attribute this extreme similarity to the very recent origin of chromosomal races in Europe. Furthermore, genic diversity measures suggest that geographically separated Rb populations have in situ and independent origins. Thus, Rb translocations are probably not unique events, but originated repeatedly. Two models are presented to explain how the rapid fixation of a series of chromosomal rearrangements can occur in a population without lowering variability in the nuclear genes. The first model assumes that chromosomal mutation rates are between 10(-3) and 10(-4) and that populations underwent a series of transient bottlenecks in which the effective population size did not fall below 35. In the second model, genic variability is restored following severe bottlenecks, through gene flow and recombination.

Regulation of Puberty and Its Consequences on Population Dynamics of Mice

Synopsis. Changes in generation time can have a major impact on population dynamics in small, rapidly breeding rodents. The onset of puberty in female house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) can vary from the age of 4 wk to 8 wk as a function of male acceleratory or female inhibitory urinary pheromones in laboratory experiments. In field studies, puberty inhibition has been demonstrated to vary directly with natural and experimental increases in population density. A model is developed suggesting that the sexual maturation of juvenile females residing in a dense population is inhibited by a pheromone produced by crowded females. The signal among females in a dense population seems to be mediated by the vomeronasal organ.

Biased Sex Ratios in Stressed Animals

Previous articleNext article No AccessNotes and CommentsBiased Sex Ratios in Stressed AnimalsL. M. GoslingL. M. Gosling Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The American Naturalist Volume 127, Number 6Jun., 1986 Published for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/284532 Views: 8Total views on this site Citations: 13Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1986 The University of ChicagoPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:R. Terry Bowyer, Dale R. McCullough, Janet L. Rachlow, Simone Ciuti, Jericho C. Whiting Evolution of ungulate mating systems: Integrating social and environmental factors, Ecology and Evolution 10, no.1111 (Apr 2020): 5160–5178.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6246Eulalia Moreno, María B. Ibáñez, Andrés Barbosa Mother traits and offspring sex in two threatened gazelle species in captivity, Journal for Nature Conservation 19, no.33 (Jul 2011): 148–153.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2010.10.004R. Cocchi, F. Riga Control of a coypu Myocastor coypus population in northern Italy and management implications, Italian Journal of Zoology 75, no.11 (Mar 2008): 37–42.https://doi.org/10.1080/11250000701690350Aline Kühl, Atle Mysterud, Gennadiy I Erdnenov, Anna A Lushchekina, Iuri A Grachev, Amankul B Bekenov, E.J Milner-Gulland The ‘big spenders’ of the steppe: sex-specific maternal allocation and twinning in the saiga antelope, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 274, no.16151615 (Mar 2007): 1293–1299.https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2007.0038Hannah L. Dugdale, David W. Macdonald, Chris Newman OFFSPRING SEX RATIO VARIATION IN THE EUROPEAN BADGER, MELES MELES, Ecology 84, no.11 (Jan 2003): 40–45.https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2003)084[0040:OSRVIT]2.0.CO;2Angela R. Glatston Sex ratio research in zoos and its implications for captive management, Applied Animal Behaviour Science 51, no.3-43-4 (Feb 1997): 209–216.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(96)01105-7Mariko Hiraiwa-Hasegawa Skewed birth sex ratios in primates: Should high-ranking mothers have daughters or sons?, Trends in Ecology & Evolution 8, no.1111 (Nov 1993): 395–400.https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-5347(93)90040-VSven Krackow The Effect of Weaning Weight on Offspring Fitness in Wild House Mice (Mus musculus domesticus): A Preliminary Study, Ethology 95, no.11 (Apr 2010): 76–82.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1993.tb00458.xD.P. Ryan, M.P. Boland Frequency of twin births among Holstein-Friesian cows in a warm dry climate, Theriogenology 36, no.11 (Jul 1991): 1–10.https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691X(91)90428-GWilliam J. Zielinski, John G. Vandenbergh, Monica M. Montano Effects of social stress and intrauterine position on sexual phenotype in wild-type house mice (Mus musculus), Physiology & Behavior 49, no.11 (Jan 1991): 117–123.https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(91)90241-FMartine Perret Influence of social factors on sex ratio at birth, maternal investment and young survival in a prosimian primate, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 27, no.66 (Dec 1990): 447–454.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164072Sven Krackow, Hendrik N. Hoeck Sex ratio manipulation, maternal investment and behaviour during concurrent pregnancy and lactation in house mice, Animal Behaviour 37 (Feb 1989): 177–186.https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(89)90108-5E. Jean Brennan Demographics of captive De Brazza's guenons, Zoo Biology 8, no.11 (Jan 1989): 37–47.https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.1430080106