The Influence of Parental Age on the Genetic Quality of Progeny of Mice. I. The Animals Body Weight in Successive Generations

Abstract

Summary. From 30 pairs of mice from the CF/W strain three age groups were derived: young (Y), old (O) and control (C). Mating in successive generations was carried out at the following ages: young line — 1 month old, old line — 8 to 14 months old, control line — 3 months old. The progeny of these lines were weighed at birth and at 21 and 42 days old. Also investigated was the body weight of the progeny in additional groups in which the mice from the old and young line were mated at 3 months old, and the old and control lines at 1 month old. The results obtained indicated that parental age had a significant influence on the body weight of progeny. This was the most favourable in the control line. The unfavourable influence of mating at an older age transcended one generation. This was confirmed by a decrease in the body weight of progeny in consecutive generations and the fact that differences also occurred in the additional groups mated at the same age.