Different roads to fertility: distinct molecular and physiological strategies warrant the phenotype 'high fertility' in two outbred mouse models

High Fertility: Two outbred mouse models exhibit different molecular and physiological strategies warranting improved fertility

Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes ◽

10.1055/s-0034-1372323 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 122 (03) ◽

Author(s):

M Michaelis ◽

A Sobczak ◽

JM Weitzel

Keyword(s):

Mouse Models ◽

High Fertility ◽

Outbred Mouse

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High-fertility phenotypes: two outbred mouse models exhibit substantially different molecular and physiological strategies warranting improved fertility

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-13-0425 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 147 (4) ◽

pp. 427-433 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Martina Langhammer ◽

Marten Michaelis ◽

Andreas Hoeflich ◽

Alexander Sobczak ◽

Jennifer Schoen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Models ◽

Mouse Models ◽

Information Source ◽

Serum Testosterone ◽

High Fertility ◽

Cellular Mechanisms ◽

Outbred Mouse ◽

Human Reproductive ◽

Almost All ◽

Mouse Lines

Animal models are valuable tools in fertility research. Worldwide, there are more than 400 transgenic or knockout mouse models available showing a reproductive phenotype; almost all of them exhibit an infertile or at least subfertile phenotype. By contrast, animal models revealing an improved fertility phenotype are barely described. This article summarizes data on two outbred mouse models exhibiting a ‘high-fertility’ phenotype. These mouse lines were generated via selection over a time period of more than 40 years and 161 generations. During this selection period, the number of offspring per litter and the total birth weight of the entire litter nearly doubled. Concomitantly with the increased fertility phenotype, several endocrine parameters (e.g. serum testosterone concentrations in male animals), physiological parameters (e.g. body weight, accelerated puberty, and life expectancy), and behavioral parameters (e.g. behavior in an open field and endurance fitness on a treadmill) were altered. We demonstrate that the two independently bred high-fertility mouse lines warranted their improved fertility phenotype using different molecular and physiological strategies. The fertility lines display female- as well as male-specific characteristics. These genetically heterogeneous mouse models provide new insights into molecular and cellular mechanisms that enhance fertility. In view of decreasing fertility in men, these models will therefore be a precious information source for human reproductive medicine.Translated abstractA German translation of abstract is freely available athttp://www.reproduction-online.org/content/147/4/427/suppl/DC1.

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Altered testicular cell type composition in males of two outbred mouse lines selected for high fertility

Andrology ◽

10.1111/andr.12802 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 1419-1427

Author(s):

Marten Michaelis ◽

Alexander Sobczak ◽

Carolin Ludwig ◽

Hana Marvanová ◽

Martina Langhammer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Fertility ◽

Cell Type ◽

Testicular Cell ◽

Cell Type Composition ◽

Type Composition ◽

Outbred Mouse ◽

Mouse Lines

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Reproductive performance primarily depends on the female genotype in a two-factorial breeding experiment using high-fertility mouse lines

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-16-0434 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 153 (3) ◽

pp. 361-368 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Martina Langhammer ◽

Marten Michaelis ◽

Michaela F Hartmann ◽

Stefan A Wudy ◽

Alexander Sobczak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mouse Models ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Serum Testosterone ◽

High Fertility ◽

Control Line ◽

Breeding Experiment ◽

Mating Period ◽

Female Genotype ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact

Mouse models showing an improved fertility phenotype are barely described in the literature. In the present study, we further characterized two outbred mouse models that have been selected for the phenotype ‘high fertility’ for more than 177 generations (fertility lines (FL) 1 and 2). In order to delineate the impact of males and females on fertility parameters, we performed a two-factorial breeding experiment by mating males and females of the three different genotypes (FL1, FL2, unselected control (Ctrl)) in all 9 possible combinations. Reproductive performance, such as number of offspring per litter or total birth weight of the entire pup, mainly depends on the female genotype. Although the reproductive performance of FL1 and FL2 is very similar, their phenotypes differ. FL2 animals of both genders are larger compared to FL1 and control animals. Females of the control line delivered offspring earlier compared to FL1 and FL2 dams. Males of FL1 are the lightest and the only ones who gained weight during the two weeks mating period. To address whether this effect is correlated with differing serum androgen levels, we measured the concentrations of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 4-androstenedione, androstanediol and dihydrotestosterone in males of all three lines by GC–MS. We measured serum testosterone between 5.0 and 6.4 ng/mL, whereas the concentrations of the other androgens were at least one order of magnitude lower, with no significant differences between the lines. Our data indicate that reproductive outcome largely depends on the genotype of the female in a two-factorial breeding experiment and supports previous findings that the phenotype ‘high fertility’ is warranted by using different physiological strategies.

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