Breeding and offspring rearing ability of C57BL/6J dystrophic mice.
The antiepileptic drug phenytoin, administered in drinking water for 104 days, was used to reduce the neural overactivity (pseudomyotonia) of C57BL/6J dystrophic (dy2J/dy2J) male mice in an attempt to improve their breeding success over a 90-day period. Male dy2J/dy2J mice have difficulty in successfully mounting females due to the pseudomyotonia affecting their hindlimb musculature. Breeding success, as judged by litter frequency, of dy2J/dy2J males receiving phenytoin (5 micrograms/ml serum) was compared with untreated dy2J/dy2J and phenotypically normal (+/?) male and female mice. Phenytoin did not enhance male dy2J/dy2J breeding success. Based on dy2J/dy2J crosses with +/? animals, the dy2J/dy2J female was a more successful breeder than the dy2J/dy2J male. In terms of litter frequency, litter size, and offspring birth weight, dy2J/dy2J females (age 8-21 wks.) bred as efficiently as +/? females of the same age. Dystrophic females were deficient in offspring rearing capabilities as evidenced by lower offspring survival rates and weaning weights.
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
D010672:Phenytoin