Tc. Frandsen et al., MATERNAL TRANSFER OF THE 6-MBOA CHEMICAL SIGNAL IN MICROTUS-MONTANUS DURING GESTATION AND LACTATION, Canadian journal of zoology, 71(9), 1993, pp. 1799-1803
A study was undertaken to determine how reproductive information from
the plant metabolite 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) is transferred
maternally to offspring in the montane vole. Microtus montanus. Adult
female M. montanus were implanted with 10- or 20-mm Silastic capsules
containing 6-MBOA (experimental) or empty capsules (control). Females
were paired with males and monitored daily for births. On the day of b
irth, the offspring were either cross-fostered to other mated pairs, o
r maintained in the natal nest. Six groups were formed based on whethe
r the litter was transferred to a female of the same treatment, to a f
emale of the opposite treatment, or left in the cage of birth until we
aning. The offspring were reared in the nest until 18 days and sacrifi
ced 8 days after weaning. Data were collected on weight, total length,
paired-testes weight (males), and uterine weight (females). The data
indicate that offspring receiving 6-MBOA information demonstrate signi
ficantly increased growth and increased gonadal size compared with off
spring receiving no 6-MBOA information, and that the 6-MBOA informatio
n is transferred maternally during both gestation and lactation.