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INFERTILITY IN MICE CAUSED BY FASTING AT ABOUT THE TIME OF MATING

Summary.: Fasting male mice for up to 30 hr did not affect their libido, but fasting for 36 or 48 hr did so for 2 days after the end of the fast. Fasting male mice for up to 48 hr did not affect their fertility on any of the succeeding days.

Fasting both male and female mice for up to 30 hr did not affect the number and distribution of females mated. Fasting for 36 or 48 hr reduced the number of females mated in both the first 2 days and the first 5 days after the end of fasting and altered the distribution of mating in the first 5 days much more than when only males were fasted. Fasting both males and females significantly reduced the littering rate of the females mated 0 to 2 days before or after the end of 18 to 48 hr fasting.

It is concluded that acute inanition in females for 18 to 30 hr at and about the time of mating can reduce fertility without markedly affecting the manifestation of oestrus and that a more prolonged period ofinanition of 36 hr or more also depresses oestrus. The essential factor in acute inanition appears to be an acute energy deficiency.

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