Correlated responses to selection for postweaning gain in the rat

Evidence for correlated responses to selection was investigated in lines of rats selected for 13 generations for high (U line) and low (D line) 3-9-week gain in comparison with random-bred control lines (R and C lines). The increase in 3-9-week gain in the U lines was shown to be due largely to an increase in 9-week weight, although 3-week weight also increased in these lines. In the D lines, where a marked decrease in 3-9-week gain was observed, this was found to be due to a large decrease in 9-week weight and no detectable change in 3-week weight. The average 2-week litter weight, a measure of the lactational performance of the dam, was significanly greater in the U lines than in the D lines. Selection for 3-9-week gain in these lines of rats led to changes of litter size at birth in the same direction as that of selection. This resulted in a significantly higher litter size in the U lines than in the D lines. The number of rats alive 2 and 9 weeks of age and the percentage of mated females pupping were similar in the U and D lines but lower in these lines than the random bred C lines, providing evidence for a reduction of "fitness" in the selected lines. Carcass composition was studied for all lines at the 11th generation of selection. Carcass composition, in terms of water, fat, ash and protein, was similar in the R and C lines. The U lines had more water and lesss fat than the R or C line. The D lines had similar carcass composition to the R and C lines. It is suggested that these selected and random-bred lines of rats are potentially useful animals to investigate further the developmental and physiological mechanisms which control growth.