Mouse gestation length is genetically determined.
BACKGROUND
Preterm birth is an enormous public health problem, affecting over 12% of live births and costing over $26 billion in the United States alone. The causes are complex, but twin studies support the role of genetics in determining gestation length. Despite widespread use of the mouse in studies of the genetics of preterm birth, there have been few studies that actually address the precise natural gestation length of the mouse, and to what degree the timing of labor and birth is genetically determined.


RESULTS
To further develop the mouse as a genetic model of preterm birth, we developed a high-throughput monitoring system and measured the gestation length in 15 inbred strains. Our results show an unexpectedly wide variation in overall gestation length between strains that approaches two full days, while intra-strain variation is quite low. Although litter size shows a strong inverse correlation with gestation length, genetic difference alone accounts for a significant portion of the variation. In addition, ovarian transplant experiments support a primary role of maternal genetics in the determination of gestation length. Preliminary analysis of gestation length in the C57BL/6J-Chr#(A/J)/NaJ chromosome substitution strain (B.A CSS) panel suggests complex genetic control of gestation length.


CONCLUSIONS
Together, these data support the role of genetics in regulating gestation length and present the mouse as an important tool for the discovery of genes governing preterm birth.
Murray
Stephen A
SA
The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America.
Morgan
Judith L
JL
Kane
Coleen
C
Sharma
Yashoda
Y
Heffner
Caleb S
CS
Lake
Jeffrey
J
Donahue
Leah Rae
LR
D000818:Animals; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors
Pediatr Res. 2008 Dec;64(6):581-9
18679156
Nat Rev Genet. 2007 Jan;8(1):58-69
17173058
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jul;199(1):43.e1-5
18295169
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 May;202(5):431.e1-34
20452482
Nature. 2007 Aug 30;448(7157):1050-3
17660834
J Clin Densitom. 2009 Jan-Mar;12(1):89-94
19195621
Clin Genet. 2008 Dec;74(6):493-501
19037974
Rev Reprod. 1999 May;4(2):73-80
10357094
Biol Reprod. 1998 Apr;58(4):1071-4
9546742
Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec;15(10):479-87
15541647
Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Feb 15;167(4):474-9
18048376
Semin Reprod Med. 2007 Jan;25(1):40-51
17205422