Recovery of reproductive function by prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) from asymptotic populations

Prairie deermice greater than 100 days of age and non-reproductive in laboratory populations provided with surplus food and water were paired either with fertile mates or with other inhibited population animals. Following pairing, more than 75 per cent of all animals reproduced. The rates of reproductive recovery did not differ significantly between males and females. The average time required for reproduction by population animals paired with proven mates was less than that for pairs composed of population animals. The significantly slower rate of reproductive recovery for population pairs suggests that mutual stimulation is involved in recovery and is initially lacking or minimal in these pairs. A period of physiological and behavioural adjustment following removal from the populations appears necessary before reproduction. Mechanisms preventing reproduction within the populations are unknown.     

The influence of the social environment on sexual maturation of female deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi)

Population Ecology - Female deermice housed from weaning with groups of five females, five males or five males plus five females had significantly smaller uteri at 35–38 days of age compared...     

Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production in male prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) in different reproductive conditions and group densities

Natural and laboratory populations of Peromyscus exhibit a profound but reversible reproductive inhibition related to population density. Our earlier studies described the endocrine physiology of inhibited animals which resembles a condition of delayed puberty, but they did not reveal a primary mechanism for the induction and maintenance of the inhibition. These studies indicated that reproductive inhibition could be associated with an overall change in general metabolism. To test this hypothesis, oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were measured in three groups of Peromyscus maniculatus males that were: 1) reproductively-proven, 2) reproductively-inhibited, or 3) recovered from inhibition. We found that the mean of the 2-hr period with the lowest VO2 (the Resting Metabolic Rate, or RMR) was significantly lower, and the mean Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) was significantly higher in reproductively-inhibited males compared with reproductively-proven males. In addition, previously inhibited males allowed to recover reproductive function had a significantly higher mean VO2, while the mean RER was not different from reproductively-proven males. Moreover, and contrary to some studies with other species, increasing the ambient carbon dioxide concentration or the caging densities to as high as six animals did not significantly affect oxygen consumption when compared with the corresponding values for individuals. Taken together, these findings indicate that the reproductive inhibition observed in P. maniculatus laboratory populations is causally associated with a significant reduction in general metabolism and that this metabolic reduction which is associated with reproductive-inhibition is not induced by a CO2 signal or induced by absolute density, per se.     

Serum ACTH and adrenal histology in reproductively inhibited male prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi)

Exogenous ACTH will cause adrenal hypertrophy and gonad dysfunction in reproductively capable male deermice. The ultrastructure of the zona fasciculata of inhibited animals is substantially different from ACTH stimulated animals which suggests that ACTH alone does not produce the inhibition. Although ACTH concentrations were variable, there was no clear demonstration that any differences existed between reproductively capable vs inhibited animals at the time when corticosterone is known to be elevated in the inhibited animals. A contributory role for ACTH in promoting inhibition is not ruled out, but neither is it likely that elevated ACTH alone accounts for the observed reproductive inhibition in animals taken from populations.     

The relationship between food intake, body fat and reproductive inhibition in prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bardii)

1. Reproductively-inhibited deermice selected from four laboratory populations consumed significantly less food than reproductively-proven pairs. 2. Reproductively-inhibited animals predominantly, but not consistently, had reduced total body fat compared with reproductively capable deermice. 3. The per capita food consumption rate of two populations followed for 26 weeks since founding, decreased over time to about 65% of the daily intake of the proven animals used to found the populations. 4. An aggregation or "huddling" behaviour with concomitant reduction in thyroid hormone activity, possibly in response to the density of the "huddle", is suggested as an explanation for these observations.     

The influence of urine from asymptotic laboratory populations on sexual maturation in prairie deermice

Male and female prairie deermice housed singly from weaning (21 days) until 40 days of age had urine from one of the following sources applied daily to their nostrils: sexually mature laboratory population males or females, and sexually mature breeder males or females from our laboratory colony. Other males and females were treated with water. Records were obtained of the weights of the tests, seminal vesicles and bacula of males and the ovaries and uteri of females at 40 days of age. The major results of this study were as follow: Female urine from sexually mature and inhibited population or isolated mice stimulated the development of the male reproductive organs significantly more than water or male urine. Male urine applied to young males did not differentially affect the weights of their reproductive organs compared with water and thus showed no inhibition effects. The reproductive organs of females treated with male urine did not differ significantly in weight from those of females treated with female urine. Females treated with water developed significantly larger uteri than those treated with urine from sexually mature population females (P≤0.02), inhibited population females (P<0.001) and inhibited population males (P<0.007).     

The influence of pheromones produced by freely growing laboratory populations on the reproductive maturation of prairie deermice following prenatal and postnatal exposure

Summary Significantly more females reared on bedding soiled by different populations reproduced by 100 days of age than those reared on bedding soiled by the same populations (P<.1) or on clean bedding (P<.025) whereas the latter two groups did not differ significantly. Significantly greater percentages of females reproduced in both treatments maintained on soiled bedding than was true in the populations from which the bedding came. There were no significant differences between treatments in the weights of the reproductive organs (testes, seminal vesicles, ovaries, uteri) or in the numbers of corpora lutea or mature follicles in the ovaries of nulliparous females. The data suggest that if there were reproductively inhibiting pheromones influencing the population animals, they were altered or dissipated immediately after removal of the bedding from the population enclosures or that they were nonfunctional in the absence of the population animals. These data further suggest that the reproductive inhibition of population young is due to the presence of the populaton animals and that sociobiological factors within the populations act to prevent the reproductively stimulating influence of materials which may be present.     

The influence of pheromones produced by freely growing laboratory populations on the reproductive maturation of prairie deermice following prenatal and postnatal exposure

Significantly more females reared on bedding soiled by different populations reproduced by 100 days of age than those reared on bedding soiled by the same populations (P<.1) or on clean bedding (P<.025) whereas the latter two groups did not differ significantly. Significantly greater percentages of females reproduced in both treatments maintained on soiled bedding than was true in the populations from which the bedding came. There were no significant differences between treatments in the weights of the reproductive organs (testes, seminal vesicles, ovaries, uteri) or in the numbers of corpora lutea or mature follicles in the ovaries of nulliparous females. The data suggest that if there were reproductively inhibiting pheromones influencing the population animals, they were altered or dissipated immediately after removal of the bedding from the population enclosures or that they were nonfunctional in the absence of the population animals. These data further suggest that the reproductive inhibition of population young is due to the presence of the populaton animals and that sociobiological factors within the populations act to prevent the reproductively stimulating influence of materials which may be present.     

Stimulus selection (light) in four subspecies of deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus)

Abstract

Four subspecies of deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were selected from habitats along a gradient from mesic hardwood forests (gracilis), tall grass prairie (bairdi), short grass prairie (nebrascensis), to desert grassland (labecula) in effort to relate the light preferences of the mice to the habitat of their origin. Six individuals of each subspecies were maintained in dark chambers for 25 days, during which they could turn on a dim light for 30 seconds on ten of these days. Mice from the mesic habitats turned the lights on more frequently (light reinforcement) than mice from xeric habitats. The same subspecies that exhibited light reinforcement when raised in laboratory light conditions failed to show light reinforcement when raised in total darkness. The circadian periodicities also differed significantly among the subspecies. Conclusions drawn from the results were: (1) selection for light is genetically influenced as indicated by subspecific differences, (2) some genotypes are readily modified by environmental light conditions than others, and (3) natural selection in each environment appears to contribute to the degree of genetic fixation or genetic plasticity.     

Effect of indomethacin on reproduction under laboratory and field conditions in deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus)

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the long-term effect of enterically administered indomethacin (a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor) on reproduction in Peromyscus maniculatus (deermice) under both laboratory and field conditions. Indomethacin-coated wheat (1 mg/kg wheat) was provided to the experimental animals in the laboratory and under field conditions ad libitum. Rat chow was also provided to the animals in the laboratory. The laboratory data indicate that the number and size of the litters from the control breeding pairs were larger (number of litters=22; average number of pups/litter=4.9) than the experimental breeding pairs (number of litters=2; average number of pups/litter=2.5) over a 100-day experimental period. Field data indicate that the number of pregnant animals, the total number of animals, and mean juvenile males and females live-trapped decreased in the experimental group with respect to the control group during the experiment. The data suggest that deermice will consume indomethacin under both laboratory and field conditions, and that it effectively inhibits reproduction on a long-term basis. It is, therefore, possible that prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors may be used to control populations of rodent pests. Additionally, the data raise questions about the effect of long-term use of nonsteroidal analgesic compounds similar to indomethacin on human reproduction.     

Population density and seasonality effects on Sin Nombre virus transmission in North American deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in outdoor enclosures

Surveys of wildlife host-pathogen systems often document clear seasonal variation in transmission; conclusions concerning the relationship between host population density and transmission vary. In the field, effects of seasonality and population density on natural disease cycles are challenging to measure independently, but laboratory experiments may poorly reflect what happens in nature. Outdoor manipulative experiments are an alternative that controls for some variables in a relatively natural environment. Using outdoor enclosures, we tested effects of North American deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) population density and season on transmission dynamics of Sin Nombre hantavirus. In early summer, mid-summer, late summer, and fall 2007-2008, predetermined numbers of infected and uninfected adult wild deermice were released into enclosures and trapped weekly or bi-weekly. We documented 18 transmission events and observed significant seasonal effects on transmission, wounding frequency, and host breeding condition. Apparent differences in transmission incidence or wounding frequency between high- and low-density treatments were not statistically significant. However, high host density was associated with a lower proportion of males with scrotal testes. Seasonality may have a stronger influence on disease transmission dynamics than host population density, and density effects cannot be considered independent of seasonality.     

Comparative paternal and infanticidal behavior of sympatric white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis) and deermice (P. maniculatus nubiterrae)

We studied parental and infanticidal behavior in the field andlaboratory in two ecologically equivalent and sympatric congeners,white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis, and deermice,P. maniculatus nubiterrae. Despite their close phylogeneticrelationship and ecological similarity, various aspects of parentaland nesting behavior of the two species were significantly different.P. maniculatus males were more paternal than were P. leucopusmales in that they retrieved pups, nested with pregnant femalesand females with newborn pups, and formed longer associationswith females than did P. leucopus males. Thus, P. m. nubiterraeexhibited more pair-bonding (monogamous) characteristics thandid either P. leucopus or P. m. bairdi, as reported in otherstudies. The behavioral differences may represent the differentevolutionary history of the three subspecies. Infanticidal behavior,however, was similar in both species. Dispersing and unmatedmales killed strange pups placed in experimental test chambersin the field, whereas mated males did not kill pups within theirown home ranges. Resident females of both species were moreinfanticidal than were males, killing pups in 90% of the trials.The results support the sexual selection and resource competitionhypotheses for male and female infanticide, respectively. [BehavEcol 1991; 2: 38-45]     

Body and organ mass in agouti and non-agouti deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).

Body, adrenal, brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and testis masses were determined for agouti and non-agouti deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis) of both sexes. Body mass was highest for non-agouti females and lowest for agouti females; and sex differences in body mass were significant for agouti, but not non-agouti, deer mice. Adrenal, brain and liver masses were similar between color morphs; heart mass was greater in agouti males; and kidney, spleen and testis masses were all significantly greater for non-agouti deer mice. Splenomegaly in non-agouti deer mice was prominent, as spleens of non-agouti deer mice were 50% larger than those of agouti animals. Sex differences varied across organs and color morphs. For both color morphs, males had heavier adrenals and brains, whereas females had heavier livers and spleens. Kidney and heart mass was greater for female non-agouti deer mice, but for agouti animals, heart mass was greater in males and kidney mass differed little between the sexes. For both color morphs, testes and spleen mass was altered by photoperiod in 72 deer mice housed under short- or long-day conditions and the effect was stronger in non-agouti animals. This is the first report of splenomegaly and sex-specific body mass differences associated with the non-agouti allele.     

Metabolic and thermoregulatory effects of photoperiod and melatonin on Peromyscus maniculatus acclimatization

A photoperiod-related seasonal rhythm in active period (scotophase), metabolic rate and core temperature was documented for animals held at 21.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C ambient; animals that were habituated to long nights (10:14LD) had a greater metabolic reserve than those held in summer photoperiods (14:10LD). While relative weights of gonads and sex accessory tissues of mice show typical "winter" regression, interscapular brown adipose tissue mass was unaffected by photoperiod; moreover, IBAT beta adrenergic responses under "winter" photoperiods did not differ from "summer" photoperiods in the absence of cold stimulus. Thermogenic efficiency, measured as the increment of active temperature level achieved per increment of active period metabolic effort, was highest for animals exposed to short photoperiods. Thermal conductance was reduced in animals exposed to short (10:14LD) photoperiods. Heat conservation and thermogenic response capacity was enhanced by melatonin treatment and short photoperiod.     

Effects of social interaction on eating and drinking in two subspecies of deermice, Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii and Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis

Pair combinations of Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii and Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis were given access to solid food and water or 8 per cent sucrose. All groups consumed more total calories under separate housing conditions than when the pair was housed together. No differences were found among the three cominations of subspecies, and cage size was not a significant variable. These results suggested testing Zajonc's theory of social facilitation, which states that the intensity of the most salient response increases in the presence of conspecifics at the expense of less probable responses. In the second experiment drinking was made the most salinet behaviour by placing the mice under 23-hr liquid deprivation. Contrary to theoretical predictions social inhibition was again demonstrated.