Vitamin K requirement and reproduction in bromadiolone‐resistant Norway rats

• DOI: 10.1002/ps.2273
• Publication Date: 2011-09-14T12:53:24Z
• Authors: Jens Jacob; Stefan Endepols; Hans‐Joachim Pelz; Engelbert Kampling; Trevor G Cooper; Ching Hei Yeung; Klaus Redmann; Stefan Schlatt
• Keywords: Litter

Nucleotide polymorphisms in the VKORC1 gene can be linked to anticoagulant rodenticide resistance Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout). This provides a fitness advantage exposed actives, but may also cause costs. The vitamin K requirement and reproductive parameters of bromadiolone-resistant (Westphalian resistant strain; VKOR variant Tyr139Cys) bromadiolone-susceptible were compared.At deficiency, blood clotting times increased all homozygous males within 8 days 80% females 15 days. There was little effect on heterozygous no wild-type individuals. Litter size about 20% higher sensitive pairs compared with pairs. Testes growth, male gonad weight, sperm motility testis cell concentration unaffected by mutation.The Tyr139Cys causes considerable physiological cost terms reproduction. affect distribution spread individuals wild. Decreased litter parents seems due lowered female performance, as there significant mutation any aspects reproduction considered, this requires further study.