Table 2

Effects of Maca (1 g/kg BW) on litter size, vaginal opening day and sex ratio.


Distilled water
Maca

Litter size
(n = 12)
(n = 10)
     Day 1 (birth)
7.25 ± 1.14
10.40 ± 1.32a
     Day 4
6.83 ± 1.28
10.10 ± 1.30a
     Day 21
6.58 ± 1.33
9.70 ± 1.30
Vaginal opening day (days)
(n = 37)
(n = 52)
     Litter < 7 pups
26.1 ± 0.48
23.2 ± 0.14‡‡
     Litter ≥ 7 pups
27.5 ± 0.27*
28.40 ± 0.46***
Sex ratio (male fraction)
0.54
0.50

aP < 0.05 with respect to distilled water group.

*P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 with respect to values in the group with litter size below 7. ‡‡P < 0.01 with respect to distilled water group.

Ruiz-Luna et al. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2005 3:16   doi:10.1186/1477-7827-3-16