Breeding and Rearing Naked Mole-Rats (Heterocephalus glaber) under Laboratory Conditions. 2017

Chenlin Yu, and Shiyong Wang, and Guoshi Yang, and Shanmin Zhao, and Lifang Lin, and Wenjing Yang, and Qiu Tang, and Wei Sun, and Shufang Cui
Laboratory Animal Centre, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.

The unique biologic characteristics of naked mole-rats (NMR, Heterocephalus glaber) include longevity, cancer resistance, hypoxia tolerance, and pain insensitivity, making NMR an attractive model for biomedical research on aging, cancer, and neurobiology. However, breeding and rearing NMR in captivity is challenging. Here, we report a method for breeding NMR by using a closed-colony mating system. We selected sexually mature male and female NMR from different natal colonies and mated them 1:1. The 5 original colonies had an annual parity of 3.20 ± 0.84 (mean ± 1 SD), with 38.80 ± 9.50 pups born, 33.80 ± 8.32 pups weaned, and a survival rate of 87.19% ± 6.09% after weaning. The average annual parity of 22 N1 pairs (established from the progeny of the 5 original pairs) was 3.09 ± 0.81, with 34.86 ± 10.66 total pups born during the year, 30.14 ± 10.23 pups weaned, and a survival rate after weaning of 85.51% ± 6.60%. The average annual parity of 29 N2 pairs (that is, offspring of N1 pairs) was 3.04 ± 0.87, with 33.69 ± 11.42 pups born, 28.17 ± 10.43 pups weaned, and a survival rate after weaning of 83.66% ± 10.75%. None of these measures differed among the 3 generations, with average reproductive success exceeding 70% for each. In addition, the reproduction and growth of the N1 and N2 generations was similar to the original colonies. Our breeding method remarkably increases the production of NMR, thus representing a great potential to promote experimental NMR research and its applications.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007756 Laboratory Animal Science The science and technology dealing with the procurement, breeding, care, health, and selection of animals used in biomedical research and testing. Animal Science, Laboratory,Animal Sciences, Laboratory,Laboratory Animal Sciences,Science, Laboratory Animal,Sciences, Laboratory Animal
D008136 Longevity The normal length of time of an organism's life. Length of Life,Life Span,Lifespan,Life Spans,Lifespans
D008297 Male Males
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D012098 Reproduction The total process by which organisms produce offspring. (Stedman, 25th ed) Human Reproductive Index,Human Reproductive Indexes,Reproductive Period,Human Reproductive Indices,Index, Human Reproductive,Indexes, Human Reproductive,Indices, Human Reproductive,Period, Reproductive,Periods, Reproductive,Reproductive Index, Human,Reproductive Indices, Human,Reproductive Periods
D001947 Breeding The production of offspring by selective mating or HYBRIDIZATION, GENETIC in animals or plants. Breedings
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000822 Animal Husbandry The science of breeding, feeding and care of domestic animals; includes housing and nutrition. Animal Husbandries,Husbandries, Animal,Husbandry, Animal
D014886 Weaning Permanent deprivation of breast milk and commencement of nourishment with other food. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Weanings

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