Effects of feeding endophyte-infected tall fescue seed on the reproductive performance in male and female CD-1 mice by combination crosses

The present study was undertaken to assess the effects of endophyte-infected Acremonium coenophialum tall fescue (KY 31) seed (80% infected) on the reproductive performance of male and female CD-1 mice by combination crosses. Forty-eight male and 48 female 30-d-old mice were randomly allocated to two diet treatments. Twenty-four males and 24 females were fed Diet 1, consisting of 50% non-infected fescue and 50% mouse chow; the remaining animals were fed Diet 2, containing 50% infected fescue. At the end of 50 d, the animals were paired in groups (n = 12) as follows: 1) Diet 1 males and females; 2) Diet 2 males and Diet 1 females; 3) Diet 1 males and Diet 2 females; and 4) Diet 2 males and females. The pairs were maintained on the diets of their female partners and were allowed to cohabitate for 96 h. After this period the males were removed and the females were carried to term. Pregnancy rates among the four treatment groups were 100, 83.3, 75.0 and 54.5%, respectively. Similarly, the average number of pups born per litter among the four groups were 11.5, 8.0, 9.7, and 7.5, respectively. Also, the weights (grams) of pups born per litter were 17.5, 12.6, 12.4, and 9.8, respectively. The results point out that the reproductive capacity of both male and female mice are affected (P < 0.05) by the ingestion of endophyte-infected fescue seeds. Such negative effects were more severe in the female than the male (P < 0.05).