Exposure to Hot Temperatures During Lactation in Swiss Mice Stunts Offspring Growth and Decreases Future Reproductive Performance of Female Offspring

Lab.Equipment has you covered for your everyday Biology industry news fix. Today's article was first published on Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB):

Meng-Huan Bao, Li-Bing Chen, Catherine Hambly, John R. Speakman, and Zhi-Jun Zhao

Exposure to high temperatures (heatwaves) is rapidly emerging as an important issue of climate change, in particular for female mammals during lactation. High temperatures adversely affect the ability to dissipate heat, which has negative effects on reproductive output. The cumulative effects on growth of F1 offspring after weaning, and future reproductive performance of offspring, remain uncertain. In this study, F1 mice weaned from mothers lactating at 21 and 32.5°C were housed at 21°C from day 19 until day 56 of age, during which food intake and body mass were measured. The F1 adult females that were weaned at the two temperatures were bred and then exposed to 32.5°C during lactation. Energy intake and milk output, and litter size and mass, were determined. The F1 adults weaned at 32.5°C consumed less food and had lower body mass than their counterparts weaned at 21°C. Several visceral organs or reproductive tissues were significantly lower in mass in F1 weaned at 32.5°C than at 21°C. The exposure to 32.5°C significantly decreased energy intake, milk output and litter mass in F1 adult females during lactation. The F1 adult females weaned at 32.5°C produced less milk and raised lighter pups than those previously weaned at 21°C. The data suggest that transient exposure to hot temperatures during lactation has long-lasting impacts on offspring, including stunted growth and decreases in future reproductive performance when adult. This indicates that the offspring of females previously experiencing hot temperatures have a significant fitness disadvantage... Continue reading the complete article at the Journal of Experimental Biology Blog.

Working in the Bio industry and are canvassing for reliable Biology lab equipment for your lab? Check out Lab.Equipment’s extensive variety of Biology products designed and manufactured by established brands including:

• Troemner
• AnD Weighing
• Aczet
• Radwag
• Benchmark Scientific

Acquire multiuse Biology equipment available on Lab.Equipment including:

• Lab Centrifuges
• Lab Pipettes
• Laboratory Stirrers
• Laboratory Balances
• Laboratory Shakers

No need to worry if you are covering other industrial or scientific applications. We have you covered with a range of feature-packed lab equipment to boost your lab productivity and efficiency. Discover accurate equipment no matter for what application here.