Effects of stress due to deprivation and transport in different genotypes of house mouse

Abstract

The importance of various stress factors involved in boxing and transit of wild and laboratory mice on a 28 hour journey was studied. Transference from laboratory cage to transit box alone caused weight loss; under the best conditions the laboratory mice lost 5% of their initial weight and wild ones 8%. Deprivation of food resulted in absolute loss of weight; from this death ensued when 20% of initial weight was lost: the smaller wild mice died sooner than the larger laboratory ones. Water deprivation resulted in retarding recovery of weight lost; wild mice took longer to recover than laboratory ones. It also caused weight loss and, in conjunction with deprivation of food, poor condition and death. Transit itself affected percentage weight loss and wheat consumption; wild mice were affected differently from laboratory mice in both respects. Genotype is seen to be important not only in controlling initial weight and activity level, but also--and independently of weight--the total food requirement. In the light of these findings current literature giving guidance on shipment of small mammals is shown to be inadequate, and certain recommendations are given.