PohnB6F1: a cross of wild and domestic mice that is a new model of extended female reproductive life span.
In the search for novel genetic diversity that affects the timing of life history traits, we investigated a wild-derived stock of mice (Pohn). Early generations showed extended reproductive life span; however, this phenotype diminished with propagation of the stock. Out-crossing latter generation Pohn mice to C57BL/6J (B6) mice produced PohnB6F1 hybrids with remarkably extended reproductive life spans-mean age at last litter of 647 +/- 32 days-longer than for the parental strains (70% longer than Pohn, 88% longer than B6) and longer than for highly heterogeneous crosses of laboratory mice. Litter size among young PohnB6F1 adults was similar to parental stocks, but their age-related decline in litter size was delayed by 150-200 days, resembling the earlier Pohn generations. Possibly, out-crossing Pohn mice unmasked cryptic alleles that promote extended female reproduction. This work establishes the PohnB6F1 hybrid as a new model for delayed reproductive aging.
Flurkey
Kevin
K
The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA.
Brandvain
Yaniv
Y
Klebanov
Simon
S
Austad
Steven N
SN
Miller
Richard A
RA
Yuan
Rong
R
Harrison
David E
DE
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001835:Body Weight; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics*; D009865:Oocytes; D010641:Phenotype; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000235:genetics*