Body composition of mice of different body condition score and sex
Fekete, S.; Szakáll, I.; Andr ofszky, E.; Kósa, E.; Hullár, I.
Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 44(4): 399-410
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0236-6290 PMID: 9141277 Document Number: 457344
Body condition scores of 100 male and 100 female mice of the compact line, 70-77 days old, were estimated using whole body electrical conductivity. Phenotypic condition score was also estimated by observation and assigning a body condition score (BCS) value of 1 for normal phenotypes and BCS 5 for heavily muscled types. Mice were then killed and body chemical composition analysed. In males, body weight and protein content increased and fat content decreased with an increase in phenotypic condition score; fat, protein and ash content in body DM was constant in females. Liveweight in males was positively correlated with protein content in the whole body (r = 0.24), DM (r = 0.24) and fat-free DM (r = 0.53); no such correlation was observed in females. Both sexes showed good correlation between liveweight (r = 0.43 and 0.94 in males and females, respectively) and the E value (which reflects total body electrical conductivity, TOBEC). As an indicator of chemical maturity, the ratio of protein to ash for the body condition scores (in the order females and males) was BCS 1 = 4.97 vs. 5.67, BCS 2 = 5.38 vs. 5.86, BCS 3 = 5.33 vs. 5.86, BCS 4 = 5.32 vs. 6.20 and BCS 5 = 5.54 vs. 6.32. Protein to fat index of males, expressed as a percentage of that of females of the same body condition score was BCS 1 = 96%, BCS 2 = 113%, BCS 3 = 124%, BCS 4 = 152% and BCS 5 = 164%. It is concluded that males from the mouse line examined contain more protein and less fat than that of females with the same BCS and also that males had not reached the stage of chemical maturity (at 77 days of age). It is also suggested that TOBEC data for body weights of less than 40 g may be unreliable.