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Genetic Influences on the Timing of Puberty in Mice1
Abstract
Genetic influences on the timing of three pubertal events--vaginal opening, first vaginal cornification, and onset of cyclicity--were studied in C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and C3H/HeJ mice and in two F1 hybrid strains (B6D2F1 and B6C3HF1). Marked genotypic differences were found. Among inbred strains, differences in the onset of vaginal opening and first vaginal cornification (C3H less than DBA less than C57) did not parallel those for the onset of cyclicity (C3H much greater than DBA = C57). Compared to parental strains, F1 hybrid strains were intermediate for times of vaginal opening and first vaginal cornification, consistent with the model in which the genetic effects on the timing of these events are additive. By contrast, onset of cyclicity occurred significantly earlier in the F1 hybrids than in their parent strains, indicating heterosis for one or more genes specifying this event. Body weights also differed among the genotypes from weaning onward, but these differences were only partially correlated with the differences in the timing of the pubertal events. Thus, genetic influences other than those affecting body weight contribute to the differential timing of pubertal events in these mouse strains. These results reveal marked genetic variation in the timing of puberty, and indicate that the set of genes specifying the timing of vaginal opening and first vaginal cornification differs from those specifying the onset of cyclicity.
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“Genetic influences have been identified that influence the timing of puberty [e.g., mice: Nelson et al., 1990; humans: Townel et al., 2005]”
From Social and developmental influences on urinary androgen levels in young male white‐faced marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi) (2011) · cites this paper as Nelson et al., 1990
In the citing paper
“This is followed some days later by first estrus and a few days later by onset of regular cyclicity”
From Does puberty mark a transition in sensitive periods for plasticity in the associative neocortex? (2017) · cites this paper as Nelson et al., 1990
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Metadata
- Authors
- Nelson, J. F., Karelus, K., Felicio, L. S., & Johnson, T. E.
- Affiliations
- McGill University (CA)
- The University of Texas at San Antonio (US)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Corresponding author
- Nelson, James F.
- Venue
- Biology of Reproduction
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1990-04-01
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 649-655
- ISSN
- 0006-3363 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-7268
- OpenAlex
- W2026104991
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 0.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biology of Reproduction (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council Canada
- U.S. Public Health Service
- Medical Research Council
- National Institute on Aging (AG 08322, AG00369)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Keywords
- pubertal timing, vaginal opening, vaginal cornification, genetic variation, inbred mouse strains, F1 hybrids, heterosis, additive genetic effects, body weight, C57BL/6J mice, DBA/2J, C3H/HeJ
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Animals, Body Weight, Estrus, Female, Genotype, Mice, Inbred Strains, Sexual Maturation, Vagina, Mice
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