6533b7d0fe1ef96bd125ae1d
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Parental experience of a risky environment leads to improved offspring growth rate.
Romain GuerreiroBruno FaivreGabriele SorciKévin RagotAnne A. BessonJérôme Bellengersubject
LipopolysaccharidesMale0106 biological sciencesPhysiologyOffspringPhysiologyAquatic ScienceBiology010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciencesLife history theoryMice03 medical and health sciencesMaternal effectPregnancyFetal programmingmedicine[ SDV.EE.IEO ] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology environment/SymbiosisAnimalsBody SizeSexual maturityMolecular BiologyThrifty gene hypothesisEcology Evolution Behavior and Systematics030304 developmental biologyInflammation0303 health sciencesPregnancy[ SDE.BE ] Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and EcologyRodentReproductive successMaternal effectmedicine.diseasePaternal ExposureMaternal ExposureImmune SystemInsect SciencePaternal ExposureImmunologyFemaleAnimal Science and Zoology[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and EcologyParent–offspring conflict[SDV.EE.IEO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology environment/Symbiosisdescription
Abstract Parasites (or diseases) are major selective force for the evolution of life history traits and parasite-host evolution. Mothers can show a variety of responses to parasites during pregnancy with different consequences for them or their offspring. However, whether information in the maternal environment before pregnancy can cause a change in the phenotype of the offspring is unknown. To avoid the confounding effect of pathogens and to reduce the risk of direct effect of mother's immune activation, we injected female laboratory mice with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) before mating. In order to provide a constant information on the potential infectious risk of the environment, females were mated with males that were also exposed to LPS before mating. Offspring from immune-challenged parents were larger and grew at a faster rate than offspring from control parents (injected with PBS). Additionally, offspring from immune-challenged parents that suffered the most from inflammation grew at a faster rate than offspring from low suffering parents. Producing heavier offspring that will reach sexual maturity earlier is likely to have fitness benefit for parents and offspring through improved reproductive success.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-08-01 |