J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1985. 61:1527-1538.
© 1985 American Society of Animal Science
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Reproductive Performance of Chimeric Mice Produced from Genetic Lines that Differ in Litter Size1

Christina Craig-Veit (Lawrence)2 and G. B. Anderson3

Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis 95616

Abstract

A population of chimeras was made by aggregating 8- and 16-cell embryos from two mouse strains: a randomly bred line (C) and a selected line characterized by large litters (JU), with litter sizes of 7.7 and 13.5, respectively. The two genotypes were developmentally "balanced", as judged by the high frequency (90%) of chimeras with an intermediate or high degree of coat-color chimerism, a chimeric sex ratio of 2.2:1 males:females, and a high percentage of chimeras (31% of males, 71% of females) with germ cells of both strains. Litter size characteristics, including ovulation rate, implantation rate, rates of pre- and postimplantation embryo survival and number born, were studied in the female chimeras and compared with the performance of both parent lines and to the genetic cross of the two lines. Values for JU females exceeded those for C females for all parameters studied except postimplantation embryo survival, which was the same for both lines in second litters and was lower for JU's third litters. For most traits, means for genetic crossbreds and chimeras were similar, regardless of whether the means were at or above the midparent average. In contrast, for ovulation rate and body weight, genetic crossbreds and chimeras clearly differed, with chimeric females being similar to the JU line and genetic crossbred females exhibiting additive inheritance. Because of phenotypic differences between experimental chimeras and crossbreds produced from the same two lines, chimeras may provide a useful model for studying the physiologic basis for expression of genetic differences in quantitative traits.

Footnotes

1 We thank Dr. G. E. Bradford for the mouse stocks from which the animals used in this experiment were produced. The JU and C genetic lines were originally selected and bred by him and his students. The efforts of Martha Garcia in preparation of this manuscript are also appreciated.

2 Current Address: Dept. of Human Physiol., School of Med., Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616.

3 To whom reprint requests should be addressed.






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Copyright © 1985 by the American Society of Animal Science.