Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate heterosis effects of body weight and jumping height for successive generations of rotational crossing using two subspecies of mice which are very different in body weight and in genetic relationship from each other. Domesticated laboratory mouse $CF_{{\sharp}1}$ (C) and Yonakuni wild mouse (Y) were used as materials. Two groups of rotational crossing was made according to the parent used at the beginning of crosses, C male$\times$Y female and Y male$\times$C female. These crosses were done to produce the first ($G_1$ and $G_1{^{\prime}}$), second ($G_2$ and $G_2{^{\prime}}$) and third generations ($G_3$ and $G_3{^{\prime}}$) with sire used was alternated. Individual body weights were weighed at 1 (wk1), 3 (wk3), 6 (wk6) and 10 weeks of age (wk10) and jumping heights were measured at six weeks of age (wk6). Only the first litter used. For body weight, results of this study showed that genetic group effects were significant (p<0.01) source of variation at all ages studied. Sex effects were significant (p<0.01) at wk3, wk6 and wk10, but not at wk1. Significant interaction effects (p<0.01) between genetic group and sex were found at wk6 and wk10. The C mice with large maternal effects produced heavier offspring body weight and crosses using sire of this subspecies maintained heavy weight compared to wild Y mouse sire that has small body size. Heterosis tended to exist at the rotational crossing started from Y male C female. For jumping height, effects of genetic group and sex were significant, sire and dam effects (heterosis) exhibited from the first to third generations, and no maternal effects were observed.