title: Establishment of an albino sand rat (Psammomys obesus colony and comparison with the natural coloured animal.
abstract: The lifespan and fertility of albino sand rats were found to be severely reduced in comparison with a laboratory colony of brown sand rats. The albinos were also much more susceptible to diabetes, as judged by their glucose tolerance. In fact, untreated albinos had a higher incidence of diabetic response than coloured sand rats fed a diabetogenic diet. The albino sand rats reproduced poorly because of a reduction in male fertility. Circulating testosterone levels and seminal vesicle weights were reduced in the albinos. It is speculated that the reduction in reproductive capacity is related to diabetes.
mesh_terms: D000417:Albinism; D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006029:Glycosuria / Q000662:veterinary; D006200:Hair Color; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats / Q000502:physiology*; D012376:Rodent Diseases; D012621:Seasons