Michael Boone (right) discussing his presentation with Dr. Whiteman
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Michael Boone (right) discussing his presentation with Dr. Whiteman |
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MICHAEL BOONE
Department of Biology
Mentor: Terry Derting
Title of Presentation: The Effect of Continual Food-Restriction on Testosterone Level and Masses of Reproductive and digestive Organs of House Mice (Mus musculus)
Presented at: 1999 Annual Sigma Xi Research Symposium and Poster competition, MSU
1999 Annual Society of Mammalogists Meeting, Seattle, WA.
The research was supported by: Marcia Athey Fund Award, Kentucky Academy of Science (to J.Kruper) and the Department of Biological Sciences, MSU. ABSTRACT Restriction of an animal's food has a direct effect on the organism. The effects of different types of food-restriction are less clear. I determined the effects of continual restriction of daily food intake on development of the reproductive and digestive systems in post-weaning male house mice (Mus musculus). I tested the null hypothesis that continual food restriction does not change the level of testosterone or the masses of reproductive and digestive organs. Food intake of postweaning males was restricted daily in a manner that maintained the original body mass of the male. The males were then sacrificed and their level of testosterone and the wet and dry masses of their reproductive and digestive organs were measured. These data were compared with similar data from control males. The testosterone level of the food-restricted males was 55% higher, but not significantly different, from that of the control males. Only the mass of the adrenal glands and the stomach differed significantly between groups. I concluded that male house mice possess several adaptive physiological responses to food restriction that serve to maximize their fitness.
| College Home Page | Date Modified July, 1999
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