Energy reallocation to breeding performance through improved nest building in laboratory mice

• Published in: PloS one 2013-09, Vol.8 (9), p.e74153-e74153
• Main Authors: Gaskill, Brianna N, Pritchett-Corning, Kathleen R, Gordon, Christopher J, Pajor, Edmond A, Lucas, Jeffrey R, Davis, Jerry K, Garner, Joseph P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal reproduction; Animal sciences; Animals; Bedding; Biological activity; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Body Weight; Breeding; Construction materials; Eating; Energy; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Experiments; Feed conversion; Feed efficiency; Feeds; Female; Heat; Heat loss; House mouse; Insulation; Laboratory animals; Laboratory equipment; Litter Size; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nest building; Nesting; Nesting Behavior - physiology; Nests; Offspring; Rodents; Stress; Temperature; Thermogenesis; Thermoregulation; Weaning; Zoology
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074153

Mice are housed at temperatures (20-26 °C) that increase their basal metabolic rates and impose high energy demands to maintain core temperatures. Therefore, energy must be reallocated from other biological processes to increase heat production to offset heat loss. Supplying laboratory mice with nesting material may provide sufficient insulation to reduce heat loss and improve both feed conversion and breeding performance. Naïve C57BL/6, BALB/c, and CD-1 breeding pairs were provided with bedding alone, or bedding supplemented with either 8 g of Enviro-Dri, 8 g of Nestlets, for 6 months. Mice provided with either nesting material built more dome-like nests than controls. Nesting material improved feed efficiency per pup weaned as well as pup weaning weight. The breeding index (pups weaned/dam/week) was higher when either nesting material was provided. Thus, the sparing of energy for thermoregulation of mice given additional nesting material may have been responsible for the improved breeding and growth of offspring.