Age-related decline in reproductive sensitivity to inhibition by short photoperiod in Peromyscus leucopus

Abstract

Seasonal environments favor the timing of reproduction to match seasons when successful reproduction is most likely. Most species of temperate zone mammals suppress reproduction in winter using changes in day length as a cue. In many species, individuals vary genetically in how strongly they respond to these seasonal cues. Individuals also may modify their response to day length depending upon other factors, including their age. Age-specific changes might occur because young, peripubertal rodents are more strongly affected by harsh conditions than adults, and therefore might be more sensitive to inhibitory photoperiods. We tested the hypothesis that genetic variation in responses to photoperiod persists as individuals age. Young males from a captive population of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) that is genetically variable for reproductive inhibition by short day length (SD) were tested for photoperiod responses. Mice were placed in SD within 3 days after birth, tested at age 70 days, allowed to mature for at least 18 weeks at long day length, and then tested again as adults aged ≥34 weeks. Young males were more likely to be strongly reproductively suppressed by SD than adults, indicating that age-specific changes in reproductive strategy occur in this population. However, males that were reproductively photoresponsive when young also were more likely to be reproductively photoresponsive as adults. Thus, genetic tendency for reproductive sensitivity to photoperiod is a trait retained from puberty to adulthood, but attenuates with age. © 2009 American Society of Mammalogists.