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    Superconception in mammalian pregnancy can be detected and increases reproductive output per breeding season

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    Author
    Roellig, K; Goeritz, F; Fickel, J; Hermes, R; Hofer, H; Hildebrandt, TB
    Date
    2010-09-01
    Source Title
    Nature Communications
    Publisher
    NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Hildebrandt, Thomas
    Affiliation
    School of BioSciences
    Metadata
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    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Roellig, K., Goeritz, F., Fickel, J., Hermes, R., Hofer, H. & Hildebrandt, T. B. (2010). Superconception in mammalian pregnancy can be detected and increases reproductive output per breeding season. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 1 (6), https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1079.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/257023
    DOI
    10.1038/ncomms1079
    Abstract
    The concept of superfetation, a second conception during pregnancy, has been controversial for a long time. In this paper we use an experimental approach to demonstrate that female European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) frequently develop a second pregnancy while already pregnant and thereby increase their reproductive success. After a new, successful copulation, we confirmed additional ovulations before parturition in living, late-pregnant females by detecting a second set of fresh corpora lutea using high-resolution ultrasonography. The presence of early embryonic stages in the oviduct, demonstrated by oviduct flushing, next to fully developed fetuses in the uterus is best explained by passage of semen through the late-pregnant uterus; this was confirmed by paternity analysis using microsatellite profiling. Subsequent implantation occurred after parturition. This superfetation, categorized as superconception, significantly increased litter size and permitted females to produce up to 35.4% more offspring per breeding season. It is therefore most likely an evolutionary adaptation.

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