Is oxidative stress a physiological cost of reproduction? An experimental test in house mice by Michael Garratt, Aphrodite Vasilaki, Paula Stockley, Francis McArdle, Malcolm Jackson, and Jane L. Hurst Proceedings B Volume ():rspb October 6, 2010 ©2010 by The Royal Society

Decreased oxidative damage in the livers of female house mice allowed to reproduce freely over a four-month period. Michael Garratt et al. Proc. R. Soc. B doi: /rspb ©2010 by The Royal Society

Markers of oxidative damage in the livers of female mice that had not reproduced (control, open bars), were in peak lactation (peak, grey bars) or had just weaned their litter (post, black bars). Michael Garratt et al. Proc. R. Soc. B doi: /rspb ©2010 by The Royal Society

When rearing a single litter, peak lactation females with the heaviest litters experienced the greatest protein oxidation. Michael Garratt et al. Proc. R. Soc. B doi: /rspb ©2010 by The Royal Society