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First published online December 14, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 65-74 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02625

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Associations between basal metabolic rate and reproductive performance in C57BL/6J mice

Sarah L. Johnston^1,*, Donna M. Souter¹, Susan S. Erwin¹, Bert J. Tolkamp², Jonathan M. Yearsley³, Iain J. Gordon⁴, Andrew W. Illius⁵, Ilias Kyriazakis² and John R. Speakman^1,6,

¹ Division of Obesity and Metabolic Health, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK
² Animal Nutrition and Health Department, Scottish Agricultural College, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
³ Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
⁴ Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO - Davies Laboratory, PMB PO Aitkenvale, QLD 4814, Australia
⁵ Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
⁶ Aberdeen Centre for Energy Regulation and Obesity (ACERO), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK

Author for correspondence (e-mail: j.speakman{at}abdn.ac.uk)

Accepted 31 October 2006

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is highly variable, both between and within species. One hypothesis is that this variation may be linked to the capacity for sustained rate of energy expenditure, leading to associations between high BMR and performance during energy-demanding periods of life history, such as reproduction. However, despite the attractive nature of this hypothesis, previous studies have failed to show an association between BMR and fecundity. Our approach was to mate 304 C57BL/6J mice and allow them to wean pups before measuring BMR by indirect calorimetry. We did not find an association between BMR and litter mass, size or pup mass at birth or weaning that could not be accounted for by the body mass of the dam. There was also no relationship between BMR (or BMR corrected for body mass) and birth or weaning success, losses during weaning, or sex ratio. However, a significant relationship was found between BMR and gestational weight loss indicative of foetal resorption. This suggests that during pregnancy the available energy may be limited and partitioned away from the growing foetus and towards maintenance of the mother. In this context, a high BMR may actually be disadvantageous, conflicting with the idea that high BMR may bring reproductive benefits.

Key words: resource allocation, sustained metabolic rate, fecundity, mouse, BMR

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