Maternal effects in mice: influence of parents' and offspring's genotypes.

Different backcrosses between the F1 and two inbred parental strains (C and B6) were compared for swimming speed in water escape task and for swimming ability in a water channel. Results showed maternal effects, mice from an F1 dam swimming faster than mice from an inbred dam. Albino mice appear to be more sensitive to these effects could also be related to the inbreeding level of the offspring, the reciprocal backcrosses showing differences, whereas the two reciprocal F1's did not. Maternal effects appear to be greater in the water escape task than in the water channel situation.