Size Does Matter: Litter Size Strongly Determines Adult Metabolism in Rodents

Abstract

In this essay, we highlight how litter size in rodents is a strong determinant of neonatal growth and long-term metabolic health. Based on these effects, we strongly advise that scientific articles that utilize rodent models for obesity and metabolic research should include information on the litter sizes in the study to increase the data transparency of such reports.

Keywords: developmental origins of health and disease; insulin resistance; litter size; mouse models; neonatal growth rate; obesity.