Effects of divergent selection for body weight on bone length and diameter in mice

Abstract

SUMMARYThe length and diameter of the humerus, ulna, femur and tibia were studied at generations 10 and 14 in lines of mice selected for high and low body weight at 10 weeks of age.Although some deviations from control were not significant, a general pattern of correlated responses was evident. The divergences of high and low line means for bone length and diameter were significant in the four bones, confirming the contribution of these parameters to genetically determined alterations in body weight. Maternal effects did not affect bone length and diameter and heterosis was not important in the genetic control of these parameters. Unlike bone length, bone diameter continued to diverge in response to the additional four generations of selection. There may therefore be differences in the quantitative genetic control of bone length and diameter and consequently in the control of endochondral and intramembranous ossification.