Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius).
Hibernating mammals exhibit unique metabolic and physiological phenotypes that have potential applications in medicine or spaceflight, yet our understanding of the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of hibernation is limited. The meadow jumping mouse, a small North American hibernator, exhibits...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240706&type=printable |
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| author | Ethan A Brem Alyssa D McNulty William J Israelsen |
| author_facet | Ethan A Brem Alyssa D McNulty William J Israelsen |
| author_sort | Ethan A Brem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hibernating mammals exhibit unique metabolic and physiological phenotypes that have potential applications in medicine or spaceflight, yet our understanding of the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of hibernation is limited. The meadow jumping mouse, a small North American hibernator, exhibits traits-including a short generation time-that would facilitate genetic approaches to hibernation research. Here we report the collection, captive breeding, and laboratory hibernation of meadow jumping mice. Captive breeders in our colony produced a statistically significant excess of male offspring and a large number of all-male and all-female litters. We confirmed that short photoperiod induced pre-hibernation fattening, and cold ambient temperature facilitated entry into hibernation. During pre-hibernation fattening, food consumption exhibited non-linear dependence on both body mass and temperature, such that food consumption was greatest in the heaviest animals at the coldest temperatures. Meadow jumping mice exhibited a strong circadian rhythm of nightly activity that was disrupted during the hibernation interval. We conclude that it is possible to study hibernation phenotypes using captive-bred meadow jumping mice in a laboratory setting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-54bde5bdebad42e699b438fc0a5da72f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-54bde5bdebad42e699b438fc0a5da72f2025-08-20T02:55:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01165e024070610.1371/journal.pone.0240706Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius).Ethan A BremAlyssa D McNultyWilliam J IsraelsenHibernating mammals exhibit unique metabolic and physiological phenotypes that have potential applications in medicine or spaceflight, yet our understanding of the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of hibernation is limited. The meadow jumping mouse, a small North American hibernator, exhibits traits-including a short generation time-that would facilitate genetic approaches to hibernation research. Here we report the collection, captive breeding, and laboratory hibernation of meadow jumping mice. Captive breeders in our colony produced a statistically significant excess of male offspring and a large number of all-male and all-female litters. We confirmed that short photoperiod induced pre-hibernation fattening, and cold ambient temperature facilitated entry into hibernation. During pre-hibernation fattening, food consumption exhibited non-linear dependence on both body mass and temperature, such that food consumption was greatest in the heaviest animals at the coldest temperatures. Meadow jumping mice exhibited a strong circadian rhythm of nightly activity that was disrupted during the hibernation interval. We conclude that it is possible to study hibernation phenotypes using captive-bred meadow jumping mice in a laboratory setting.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240706&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Ethan A Brem Alyssa D McNulty William J Israelsen Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius). PLoS ONE |
| title | Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius). |
| title_full | Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius). |
| title_fullStr | Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius). |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius). |
| title_short | Breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius). |
| title_sort | breeding and hibernation of captive meadow jumping mice zapus hudsonius |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240706&type=printable |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ethanabrem breedingandhibernationofcaptivemeadowjumpingmicezapushudsonius AT alyssadmcnulty breedingandhibernationofcaptivemeadowjumpingmicezapushudsonius AT williamjisraelsen breedingandhibernationofcaptivemeadowjumpingmicezapushudsonius |