Aerobic performance of wild-derived house mice does not change with cold exposure or intestinal parasite infection.

Abstract

Aerobic performance is affected by numerous endogenous and exogenous factors. We investigated the effects of ambient temperature and parasite infection on resting metabolism and maximal exercise-induced oxygen consumption in wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus). We also collected preliminary data for effects of lactation on these measures of aerobic performance. Mice were experimentally infected with a naturally occurring intestinal nematode (Heligmosomoides polygyrus) and then exposed to cold temperatures for 10 d or allowed to mate and reproduce. Wild-derived house mice did not change their resting metabolism with H. polygyrus infection or cold exposure, which is in stark contrast to similar studies with laboratory mice. Preliminary data also showed no effect of lactation on aerobic performance. Similarly, maximal exercise-induced oxygen consumption and hematocrit and hemoglobin were unaffected by all experimental treatments. We conclude that resting metabolism, maximal oxygen consumption, and hematology of wild-derived house mice are unaffected by exogenous (temperature) and endogenous (H. polygyrus) demands and, therefore, wild-derived mice respond to these demands without incurring potential costs associated with changes in aerobic performance.