[Lifelong coprophagy in male mice]

Changes in coprophagy with age were investigated in male ICR mice during their life span. Sucklings showed coprophagy at 17 to 18 days old, i.e., a few days after they began to excrete feces autonomously. The number of fecal pellets ingested peaked at 5 to 6 weeks old (13 pellets/day) and gradually decreased, thereafter (2.1 pellets at 78 weeks old, 1.5 pellets at 104 weeks old). The diurnal pattern of coprophagy also changed with age. Growing mice showed vigorous coprophagous activity in both light and dark phases, whereas animals over 30 weeks old exhibited less activity in both phases, especially in the dark phase. Feces proved to be abundant in vitamin B12 and folic acid throughout the life span. These results suggest that the frequency of coprophagy changes in association with the nutritional requirements of mice during the process of growth or aging.