تأثیر افزودن مقادیر مختلف مکمل سیترات پتاسیم به آب و خوراک، بر نسبت جنسیت موش های صحرایی

     Change in sex ratio of some species such as rat due to the greater use of one sex is noted. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of adding different levels of potassium citrate to water and feed on sex ratio of laboratory rats. Fifty female wistar rats and 25 males were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups and fed diets or water supplemented with different levels of potassium citrate from 20 days before to 10 days after mating. During the experiment period and 10 weeks after mating, weekly water and feed intake were measured and number of neonates and their gender were recorded. Potassium citrate increased percentage of male neonates in all the treated groups; but only the rates that dietary consumed three-fold higher than the potassium requirements showed significant difference compared to the control group and the sex ratio changed (P <0.05). The mean body weight in all treated rats was lower than the control group. Addition of potassium citrate to the diets and water caused 1.9 to 13.5% decrease in reproductive performance in the supplemented groups compared to the control group. Although potassium supplementation increased percentage of male rat neonates, because of the reduced reproductive performance of the colony and the reduction in body weight, the continuous administration of potassium in diet is not recommended; but, when it is required, potassium can be implemented during short period of time.