The effects of early environmental conditions on the reproductive and somatic development of juvenile guinea pigs (Cavia aperea f. porcellus)

Abstract

Little is known about the effects of the early environment on the development of non-seasonally reproducing species like the domestic guinea pig (Cavia aperea f. porcellus). Although guinea pigs reproduce throughout the year, there is evidence for environmental sensitivity of their reproductive physiology. To investigate the sensitivity of juvenile body weight and puberty to differences in the prenatal and early postnatal environment, subjects were exposed to either of two experimental conditions mimicking seasonal variation: a long photoperiod with 25 °C ambient temperature ("LD/25 °C"), or a short photoperiod with 15 °C ("SD/15 °C"). Mean body weight of F1-males from LD/25 °C-conditions was higher than that of SD/15 °C-males during the whole pubertal period, although the difference was significant only during the early growth phase. Testosterone concentrations also differed significantly between the two treatment groups, pointing to an earlier pubertal onset in LD/25 °C-than SD/15 °C-males. In F1-females, treatment effects on body weight or age at first estrus were absent. This indicates that the somatic and reproductive development is more sensitive to early photoperiod and temperature conditions in male than female guinea pigs, and that other environmental factors may also play a crucial role for reproductive maturation in this species.

Effects of Diets High in Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Socially Induced Stress Responses in Guinea Pigs

“…Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the influences of diets high in n-3, n-6, or n-9 fatty acids during a social setting in guinea pigs ( Cavia aperea f. porcellus ) where males compete for females, to monitor behavior and stress physiology in both sexes in a prolonged social context. Guinea pigs exhibit a complex social system, including harems and strict hierarchies [41] , [42] , and their behavioral and physiological responses to different social and environmental conditions are well studied [43] , [44] . Therefore, this species is a suitable model for studying UFA-related effects on social behavior and physiological responses.…”

Programming the brain: Common outcomes and gaps in knowledge from animal studies of IUGR

“…Data on onset of puberty were taken from data using species-appropriate measures in human [191], rat [192], guinea pig [193,194], rabbit [195,196] and sheep [197,198]. Diagram does not show representative of the timing described in the literature: rat UPL [112,115] the variety of timing used in these studies they are not shown above.…”

EFICIENCIA PRODUCTIVA Y REPRODUCTIVA EN LA CRIANZA COMERCIAL DE CUYES (Cavia porcellus L.) EN DOS ZONAS ECOLÓGICAS

“…La mayor mortalidad se debe al aplastamiento de las crías por parte de los adultos (Chauca et al, 1984). Sin embargo los resultados de la sierra son superiores a pesar del uso de gazaperas, esto se debe probablemente a la exposición de los animales a temperaturas por debajo de la temperatura crítica más baja (Bauer et al, 2008). La mortalidad en época de frio (junio, julio y agosto) fue la más alta que en épocas de lluvia.…”

“…La importancia de determinar valores financieros se reflejan en abordar problemas económicos dentro de la producción, que de otro modo podrían limitar a los productores en la toma de decisiones (Barth et al, 2001;Alexander et al, 2012). Cabe destacar que los efectos medioambientales influyen en el desarrollo de actividades pecuarias (Bauer et al, 2008). Al cuy se conoce como una especie de la zona alto andina, pero los mejores resultados productivos, reproductivos y de mercadeo se han dado en la costa del Perú.…”