ALTERNATIVE REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES IN MICROTUS

田鼠的替代繁殖策略

• 批准号: 3328400
• 负责人: FRANKLIN H BRONSON
• 金额: $ 13.44万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1991
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1991-01-01 至 1995-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3328400
• 关键词: animal ecology; bioenergetics; diet; ethology; gender difference; neuroendocrine system; nutrition related tag; photobiology; reproduction; temperature; vole

A mammal must judiciously partition its available energy among many competing reproductive and non-reproductive needs. We know little about the nature of this partitioning process, either metabolically or neuroendocrinologically. It is the intent of this proposal to learn much more about this process by exploiting a unique kind of naturally-occurring variation that occurs in wild rodents. Some temperate zone populations of rodents contain a mixture of genetically-different individuals that use markedly different reproductive strategies; some individuals rely on photoperiod to time their annual reproductive cycle while others in the same population ignore this cue, breeding opportunistically instead, sometimes even during the winter. This is a proposal to elucidate the genetic, behavioral, metabolic and neuroendocrine bases of these alternative strategies using voles of the genus Microtus as a model. Of particular concern will be the kinds of energetic adaptations that allow opportunists both to survive and reproduce during the winter. First, wild-trapped voles will be subjected to selection to develop two distinct genetic lines of animals, one reproductively-photoresponsive and one non-responsive/opportunistic. Second, the reactions of these two genetic lines to the two energetic challenges of winter, food shortage and low temperature, will be compared. Daylength will also be a variable in these experiments. Of core concern here are potential differences in the voles ability to survive and maintain their capacity to reproduce. Incorporated therein, however, are interests in a variety of specific energy-related behavioral and metabolic adaptations, as well as whole body energy balance. Third, the reproductively important neuroendocrine reactions of the two genetic lines to food shortage and low temperature will be compared. One result of this research will be a solid set of principles that pertain to the metabolic process wherein assimilated energy is allocated to competing reproductive and non-reproductive needs. A second result will be an unparalleled set of genetic tools with which to develop still greater understanding of this important process.

哺乳动物必须明智地将其可用能量分配给许多 相互竞争的生殖和非生殖需求。 我们知之甚少 这种分配过程的性质，无论是代谢还是 神经内分泌学。 该提案的目的是学到很多东西 通过利用一种独特的自然发生的物质来更多地了解这个过程 野生啮齿动物中发生的变异。 一些温带种群 啮齿类动物包含基因不同的个体的混合物，这些个体使用 明显不同的繁殖策略；有些人依赖 光周期来计算它们每年的繁殖周期，而其他人则在 同样的种群忽视了这一提示，而是机会主义地繁殖， 有时甚至在冬天。 这是一项旨在阐明 这些的遗传、行为、代谢和神经内分泌基础 使用田鼠属田鼠作为模型的替代策略。 的 特别值得关注的是允许的能量适应类型 机会主义者在冬天既生存又繁殖。 首先，将对野生捕获的田鼠进行选择，培育出两种 动物的独特遗传系，一种具有生殖光响应性和 一种无反应/机会主义。 二、两人的反应 应对冬季两大充满活力挑战的遗传系：食物短缺和 温度低，会比较。 日长也将是一个变量 这些实验。 这里的核心问题是潜在的差异 田鼠的生存能力和维持繁殖能力。 然而，其中包含了对各种特定领域的兴趣。 与能量相关的行为和代谢适应，以及整个身体 能量平衡。 三、生殖重要 两个遗传系对食物短缺和低水平的神经内分泌反应 将比较温度。 这项研究的一个结果将是一套坚实的原则，涉及 代谢过程，其中同化的能量被分配给 相互竞争的生殖和非生殖需求。 第二个结果将是 一套无与伦比的遗传工具，可用于开发更大的 了解这个重要的过程。