Mice and Rat Reproduction Flashcards
how can you tell the difference between a male and a female?
males have greater anogenital distance
females have more pronounced nipples
continuous polyestrous
regular heat cycles throughout the year
means they can become pregnant at anytime
are they monogamous or polygamous
rats and mice can be both
how long are a mouse and rat’s estrus cycle?
4-5 days
estrus cycle
the time when a female is open to receiving a male
when do mice reach sexual maturity?
after 6-8 weeks
how long does a mouse pregnancy last?
19-21 days
how long after birth are the mice pups weaned from the mother?
3-4 weeks
when does a rat reach sexual maturity?
6-10 weeks
how long is gestation for a rat?
20-22 days
how long is gestation for a mouse?
19-21 days
what condition are neonates born in?
altrical
deaf, blind, hairless, and little motor function
what do healthy pups have that show success of milking from the mother?
a milk spot on their abdomen
what is the life span of a mouse?
1-3 years
what are the litter sizes for a mouse and a rat?
6-12 pups
what is the lifespan of a rat?
2.5-3.5 years
lee boot pheromone effect
caused by isolating a group of females from males
inducts anestrous (ending of estrus cycle)
whitten pheromone effect
caused by a group of females being exposed to a pheromone in male urine
they synchronize estrus cycles
bruce pheromone effect
caused by a group of females being introduced to a stranger male
causes spontaneous abortion
post-partum estrus pheromone effect
caused by a group of females being introduced to a male after parturition (giving birth)
causes them to re-enter estrus and can happen as early as 24 hours after parturition, they also synchronize cycles
