Prenatal effects on reproductive capacity during aging in female mice. 1985

F S Vom Saal, and C L Moyer

The production of live young during successive pregnancies was investigated in female CF-1 house mice (Mus musculus) identified at cesarean delivery as having developed in utero between 2 male fetuses (2M females) or not next to a male fetus (0M females). 2M female mice have previously been found to be exposed to higher concentrations of testosterone than 0M females during fetal life, presumably as a result of the transport of steroids between contiguous fetuses. 0M and 2M females were paired with stud males. The males were removed prior to delivery of a litter and replaced by other males when the litter was weaned. This process was repeated until: 1) a female did not become pregnant within 2.5 mo or 2) two successive litters were produced in which all of the pups were dead. In Experiment 1 females were first mated when 25 days old, and 2M females ceased producing litters containing live pups at a younger age and after fewer litters than did 0M females; however, many females were terminated from the study as a result of producing 2 successive litters of dead young rather than failing to become pregnant during a 2.5-mo period. There was a gradual decline in the number of live young produced by 0M females as a function of age and parity, but 2M females abruptly ceased producing any live young after producing a litter of normal size. For the last live litter, there were thus significantly fewer live young produced by 0M females than by 2M females. None of these differences were observed in Experiment 2, in which 0M and 2M females were mated for the first time beginning at 7 mo of age. The 2M females in this experiment ceased producing live young at a significantly older age than did the 2M females first mated at puberty. In contrast, there was no effect of age at initial mating on the age at which 0M females ceased producing live young. This finding suggests that exposure of 2M females to elevated titers of testosterone during fetal life results in a reduction in reproductive life span if they first become pregnant during the pubertal period.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007774 Lactation The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN. Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D008098 Litter Size The number of offspring produced at one birth by a viviparous animal. Litter Sizes,Size, Litter,Sizes, Litter
D008425 Maternal Behavior The behavior patterns associated with or characteristic of a mother. Maternal Patterns of Care,Maternal Care Patterns,Behavior, Maternal,Behaviors, Maternal,Care Pattern, Maternal,Care Patterns, Maternal,Maternal Behaviors,Maternal Care Pattern,Pattern, Maternal Care,Patterns, Maternal Care
D010298 Parity The number of offspring a female has borne. It is contrasted with GRAVIDITY, which refers to the number of pregnancies, regardless of outcome. Multiparity,Nulliparity,Primiparity,Parity Progression Ratio,Parity Progression Ratios,Ratio, Parity Progression,Ratios, Parity Progression
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
D011297 Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH. Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
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
D005260 Female Females
D005328 Fetal Viability The potential of the FETUS to survive outside the UTERUS after birth, natural or induced. Fetal viability depends largely on the FETAL ORGAN MATURITY, and environmental conditions. Viability, Fetal
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging

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