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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Breeding system can affect the offspring sex ratio in Syrian hamsters

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Author(s):
Chelini, M. O. M. [1] ; Souza, N. L. [2] ; Otta, E.
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psicol, Dept Psicol Expt, BR-05508030 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, BR-05508030 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: LABORATORY ANIMALS; v. 45, n. 1, p. 55-57, JAN 2011.
Web of Science Citations: 3
Abstract

Nulliparous female Syrian hamsters were used to investigate the effect of two different breeding systems on the fertility of the female Syrian hamster. We hypothesized that females submitted to a harem system (HS) would deliver smaller and more female-biased litters than in a monogamic system. Ten female and 10 adult male hamsters housed individually (G1) were kept in a monogamic temporary breeding system, while 10 females and five males (G2) were submitted to HS with two females and a male permanently housed together since female weaning. Females from G1 and G2 delivered, respectively, 47 and 50 litters, and produced 364 (G1) and 383 (G2) weaned pups without any difference in litter size, mean weight of weaned pups and body condition of dams. Interparturition intervals were shorter and the percentage of male pups per litter was higher in the HS possibly as a result of different endocrine conditions provided by different breeding systems. Besides providing evidence that housing conditions can influence the sex of hamster offspring, our findings suggest a mechanism for the non-random distribution of male and female pups in hamster litters. (AU)