title: Reproductive features of the Russian vole in laboratory breeding.
abstract: Reproductive features of newly bred Russian voles (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis) as a laboratory animal were studied. This species is a copulatory ovulator, and most couples copulated 6 to 16 h after pairing. The gestation period varied from 18 to 22 days (mean +/- SD: 20.6 +/- 0.9, n = 72), and the average litter size was 4.6 +/- 1.9 (n = 125). Compared with the litter size at the first parturition (3.6 +/- 1.6, n = 72), the litter size in the subsequent parturitions increased to 5.9 +/- 1.4 (n = 53). The animals exhibited postpartum estrus, and repeated pregnancy accompanied with suckling pups and parturition continuously in the laboratory condition unlike other vole species. In view of their complex stomach and good proliferation, the Russian voles were evaluated as a good laboratory animal, especially as a model animal for ruminant studies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Morphology and Function, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
authors.forename: Diah Tri
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Widayati
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mekada
authors.forename: Sen-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zholnerovskaya
authors.forename: Suren Minasovich
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zakiyan
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*