Meeting Abstract

44.5  Sunday, Jan. 5 11:30  Energetic and Metabolic Consequences of Fatherhood in the Biparental California Mouse (Peromyscus californicus) ANDREW, J.R.*; GARLAND, T. JR.; CHAPPELL, M.A.; SALTZMAN, W.; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Riverside jandr010@ucr.edu

Although the effects of motherhood on mothers’ health have been well documented in mammals, the effects of fatherhood on fathers’ health are virtually unknown. In this study, we evaluated some of the potential energetic and metabolic effects of being a father. We used California mice (Peromyscus californicus) because they are genetically monogamous in the wild and because fathers show similar post-partum parental behavior to mothers, with the exception of lactation. We studied three groups: males paired with an intact female, males paired with a tubally ligated female, and males paired with another male. Starting 3-5 days after the birth of each breeding pair’s first litter, males were tested for exercise performance (maximum sprint speed, treadmill endurance), basal metabolic rate, and maximum oxygen consumption. At the conclusion of testing, males were euthanized, blood was sampled for future hormone assays, and organs were weighed. This study will provide novel insights into potential energetic and metabolic costs of fatherhood in a biparental mammal. (Funded by NSF IOS-1256572 and NIH 1R21HD075021)