Cowley D E, Pomp D, Atchley W R, Eisen E J, Hawkins-Brown D
Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695.
Genetics. 1989 May;122(1):193-203. doi: 10.1093/genetics/122.1.193.
Embryo transfers were used to demonstrate that the genotype of the mother providing the uterine developmental environment significantly influences postnatal growth and adult body size of her progeny. Irrespective of their own genotype, mouse embryos transferred into the uterus of an inbred strain with large body size (C3H) had greater body weights, longer tails and higher growth rates than those transferred into the uterus of a strain with small body size (SWR). Uterine heterosis on body size was smaller than progeny heterosis, and both progeny and uterine heterosis persisted in adult mice. Uterine litter size was significantly negatively associated with body weight, tail length, growth rate and the timing of developmental events. The inbred SWR strain was more sensitive to the embryo transfer procedure than the C3H strain, but effects due to embryo transfer were moderate. Prenatal uterine effects have ramifications for biotechnologies utilizing embryo transfer as well as predictions about evolutionary change by selection.
胚胎移植被用于证明，提供子宫发育环境的母亲的基因型会显著影响其后代的出生后生长和成年体型。无论自身基因型如何，移植到体型较大的近交系（C3H）子宫内的小鼠胚胎，比移植到体型较小的品系（SWR）子宫内的胚胎体重更重、尾巴更长且生长速度更快。体型上的子宫杂种优势小于后代杂种优势，并且后代和子宫杂种优势在成年小鼠中都持续存在。子宫产仔数与体重、尾巴长度、生长速度以及发育事件的时间显著负相关。近交SWR品系比C3H品系对胚胎移植程序更敏感，但胚胎移植造成的影响较为温和。产前子宫效应对于利用胚胎移植的生物技术以及通过选择进行进化变化的预测都有影响。
