Table 2.
Interspecies comparison of life history traits between mice and NMRs.
| Mouse | Naked mole-rat | Significance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average gestation period (days) | 21 | 71 | N.D. |
| Age at weaning* (weeks) | 3 | 3–6 | N.D. |
| Age at sexual maturity (weeks) | 6–8 | 24# | N.D. |
| Maximum lifespan (years) | 4 | >31 | N.D. |
| Body weight birth (g) | 1.28 ± 0.01 (n = 6) | 1.79 ± 6.6 (n = 27) | p = 0.0010 |
| Brain weight birth (mg) | 73.3 ± 6.2 | 154.6 ± 3.3 | p < 0.0001 |
| Percent brain/body mass birth (%) | 5.6 ± 0.5 | 8.75 ± 0.4 | p = 0.0020 |
| Body weight at weaning* (g) | 8.51 ± 0.53 (n = 9) | 3.22 ± 0.22 (n = 9) | p < 0.0001 |
| Brain weight at weaning* (mg) | 393.9 ± 10.6 | 230.3 ± 5.8 | p < 0.0001 |
| Percent brain/body mass at weaning* | 4.8 ± 0.3 | 7.4 ± 0.5 | p < 0.0001 |
| Body weight adult (g) | 26.28 ± 0.73 (n = 37) | 42.67 ± 2.22 (n = 35) | p < 0.0001 |
| Brain weight adult (mg) | 433.0 ± 2.7 | 376.3 ± 7.9 | p < 0.0001 |
| Percent brain/body mass adult | 1.6 ± 0.0 | 1.2 ± 0.1 | p < 0.0001 |
N.D: Not Determined;
*
Begin to eat solids and decreased dependence on nursing;
#
Observation from our laboratory. Mean ± SEM.