Effect of restricted feeding of prepubertal and adult male rats on fertility and sex ratio.

ABSTRACT

Food consumption per day per rat decreased in animals kept on restricted feeding schedules (2, 4, 8 and 12 hr) during adulthood but it remained unchanged in immature rats except in a group which was restricted to feed for 2 hr. The body weight gain decreased significantly in both the age groups. Epididymal sperm concentration did not change with feeding restriction in adult rats but decreased significantly in rats which attained puberty during the study period. Conception rate in females after mating with males under study decreased considerably. Percentage of female pups was greater in litters obtained after mating with males kept on 2, 4 and 8 hr per day feeding schedules during prepubertal period. The results, thus reveal that restricted feeding during prepubertal period decreases fertility and affects sex ratios in rats.