title: Association between erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels and reproduction capacity in Long-Evans rats.
abstract: During genetic selection of rats for high and low levels of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) the decreased fertility in Low-DPG animals was due to significantly (P less than 0.01) fewer offspring born per litter. The rat lines were intercrossed and animals at the tails of the F2 2,3-diphosphoglycerate distribution were mated. Subsequent matings of F3 offspring were monitored. Low-DPG F3 pregnant females killed at 20 days of gestation showed significantly (P less than 0.05) fewer corpora lutea than High-DPG F3 females. There were also significantly (P less than 0.01) fewer corpora lutea in Low-DPG line rats compared to High-DPG rats. It is concluded that the relationship between 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels and fertility is not due to inbreeding but to a possible genetic linkage, a shared biochemical determinant or a relationship through the effect of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels on oxygen delivery to tissue.
mesh_terms: D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000502:physiology*; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids; D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate