Inbreeding effects on physiological responses to chronic hypoxia in mice (Mus musculus)
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Jennifer Irene Berting (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
- Advisor
- Wade Watanabe
Abstract: Changes in complex phenotypes, such as exercise tolerance, are often mediated by the
co-adjustment of many components. For example, hypoxic exercise tolerance (HET) is typically
enhanced by the myriad physiological adjustments that accompany acclimation to hypoxia.
Further, exercise tolerance is strongly influenced by genetic background, but the effect of genetic
variation is largely unknown. The present study sought to examine the consequence of reduced
genetic variation, in the context of inbreeding, and its effect on the relationship between hypoxic
exercise tolerance (HET), maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), and myoglobin concentration
([Mb]) in Mus musculus. I hypothesized that the increased homozygosity found in inbred strains
would lead to reduced phenotypic plasticity, resulting in more variable responses to chronic
hypoxia. In addition, I hypothesized that HET and VO2max would be positively correlated.
Hypoxia led to decreases in body mass as well as increases in HET and hypoxic VO2max in all
strains. While there was no significant effect of breeding on HET, the change in VO2max and the
cost of exercise following hypoxic acclimation were greater among inbred than outbred strains.
The response of [Mb] to hypoxia was generally greater among inbred than outbred strains as
predicted, but the differences were mostly non-significant. HET and VO2max were positively
correlated, but [Mb] was not correlated with either of these variables. The consistent influence of
inbreeding on body mass, VO2max, and cost of exercise suggest an underlying consequence of
genetic uniformity. While there was some support for the hypothesis that reduced phenotypic
plasticity in inbred strains leads to a more variable response to hypoxia, on the whole the results
were not consistent with this view.
Inbreeding effects on physiological responses to chronic hypoxia in mice (Mus musculus)
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters of Science
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Mice as laboratory animals, Mice--Research
- Subjects
- Mice -- Research
- Mice as laboratory animals