Strain differences in mouse brain weight gain and spatial-location scores during postnatal development

Brain weight and performance on a spatial-location test were measured from birth to weaning on mouse strains CD1, Balb/c, and their F1 cross. For CD1, onsets of both the last rapid-brain-growth stage and nonzero scores on the spatial-location test were around age 17 days; asymptotes of both were reached about age 23 days. Balb/c and F1 had at least 5- to 6-day delays of both onsets and asymptotes. For the strains studied, onset of nonzero performance on the spatial-location test may be a provisional indicator of onset of significant and rapid brain growth after age 15 days. The delayed F1 brain growth stage could indicate that control of brain growth about age 20 days resides in an inhibitory factor present in Balb/c but not in CD1.