Growth and Reproduction of House Mice at Three Different Temperatures

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Wild house mice have been bred at 18[degree]C, 25[degree]C, (partly at 709c relative humidity and partly at 859c relative humidity), and 32[degree]C. From their birth to the age of 90 days the mice were regularly weighed, and from the age of 15 days the length of body and tail was measured. The age for attainment of fecundity was recorded. Among the nestlings, the mice at 32[degree] are a little heavier than at the other two temperatures- later on the mice at 18[degree] are significantly heavier and have significantly longer bodies than at the other two temperatures. Already at the age of 15 days, viz., before the thermoregulation becomes functional, the tails are significantly longer at 32[degree] than at 18[degree]. At the age of 60 to 90 days the tails at 32[degree] are about 45% longer than at 18[degree]. That a lengthening of the tail may be caused by other factors than a higher temperature, is indicated by the fact that of the mice grown up at 25[degree] those kept at 859c R.H. have significantly longer tails than those kept at 70% R.H. The lengthening of the tails is due to a lengthening of the individual vertebra, the number remaining the same. No difference in age for attainment of fecundity or infertility was demonstrable. Nor was it possible to show a significant difference in litter size at the three temperatures.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: