Survival and reproduction in Peromyscus leucopus in the laboratory: viable model for aging studies.
White-footed mice Peromyscus leucopus reared in our laboratory from wild-caught parents lived at least to 5.5 years. Once past weaning, over 80% of the mice lived at least until two years. Females maintained a constant weight whereas the weight of males increased until four years and decreased thereafter. At four-years of age both sexes bred successfully with mates of the same age, but had lower success with younger mice. Some males and females reproduced at five years of age.
Burger
J
J
Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855.
Gochfeld
M
M
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*