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Updated: May 5, 2026

A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model

A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model

Published on: March 27, 2016

Pup mortality in laboratory mice--infanticide or not?

Elin M Weber¹, Bo Algers, Jan Hultgren

¹Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,PO Box 234,532 23 Skara, Sweden. elin.weber@slu.se.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

|November 22, 2013

Summary

Maternal infanticide is not the primary cause of mouse pup death. Research shows that stillbirths and other factors, not maternal aggression, are responsible for litter loss in mice.

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Area of Science:

Animal Behavior
Developmental Biology
Laboratory Animal Science

Background:

Perinatal mortality in mice, a common research model, is poorly understood.
Maternal infanticide is often assumed but lacks detailed observational evidence.
Understanding litter loss causes is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether female mice actively kill their pups.
To observe maternal and pup behavior in litters experiencing total loss.

Main Methods:

Video recording of 10 C57BL/6 mouse dams (wildtype, Hfe-/-, β2m-/-) from parturition through litter loss.
Detailed observation of maternal interactions with pups, including live and deceased offspring.
Assessment for signs of infanticide, such as pup cessation of movement upon manipulation or visible wounds.

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Last Updated: May 5, 2026

A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model

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Published on: March 27, 2016

Oral Gavage in Neonatal Mouse Pups and Functional Assessment of Gut Barrier Integrity Using Ussing Chambers

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Published on: January 9, 2026

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

Main Results:

Some pups were likely stillborn (never moved).
Mothers were observed consuming dead pups but never actively harmed live pups.
No evidence of infanticide was found; no pups stopped moving when handled by the mother, and no wounds were observed.

Conclusions:

Infanticide is not the primary driver of litter loss in the studied mouse populations.
Other causes, such as stillbirths, significantly contribute to perinatal mortality.
Systematic investigation into the causality of litter loss is essential.