title: Heterotic and maternal effects on body weight and the parameters of a logistic growth curve of LL and SS rats and their F1 offspring.
abstract: Differences in growth curve parameters were evaluated on two growth strains of rats and their reciprocal crosses. Least squares analysis indicated differences (p less than .05) in asymptotic weight, age and weight at the inflection point, the rate parameter, and absolute growth rate. Significant paternal, maternal, and sex influences were evident for each of the four derived traits. Positive significant heterosis was exhibited for each of the parameters of the growth function. Analysis of least square means of body weight also indicated significant differences at all ages from 4 to 15 weeks. Significant line of sire, line of dam and sex effects were expressed for each week body weight was recorded. Although negative, significant heterosis was expressed for body weight at weeks 5 and 6. There was a tendency for heterosis in all other weekly body weight measurements to be positive.
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*