1974•Laboratory AnimalsRequires access
Sex ratio and weaning bodyweight differences in the offspring of unisexually- and bisexually-reared cross-fostered rats
Richard M. Sharpe, A. C. Wyatt
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Abstract
When mated, unisexually-reared female rats produced a significant excess of females in their litters, while males predominated significantly in litters produced by bisexually-reared females. The percentage of female offspring produced by both types of females declined with successive litters. 1st litter offspring of unisexually-reared females were significantly heavier, and generally less variable in weight at weaning than the comparable offspring of bisexually-reared females, a difference which was apparently maternally-induced. These differences in weaning bodyweight disappeared, or were reversed in favour of the offspring of bisexually-reared females, in 2nd litters.