Effect of feed supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris powder on mice reproduction.

The effect of feed supplementation with 1.0 % spray-dried green alga (Chlorella vulgaris) powder on mice reproduction was investigated. The study was continued in three generations of mice, strain Fzt:DU. Females from F0 were fed respective diet (commercial chows in control and supplemented chows in algae group) starting from 21st day of life (weaning). They were mated randomly on the 63rd day of life and all gave birth to pups. Litters were weighed, counted and then standardized (4 males and 5 females per litter). Pups were weighed and counted on day 10 and 21. After the weaning 2 females and 2 males (F1) from each litter were kept further. Females were mated on 63rd day of life. On the 18th day of pregnancy 57 and 59 (control and algae group) were sacrificed, 51 and 53 (respectively) gave birth to pups. Live, dead, absorbed fetuses and corpora lutei were counted, live fetuses were weighed. Born pups were counted and weighed and kept by dams without standardization, their number and weight were recorded on days 10 and 21. 2 females and 2 males (F2) were weaned and kept further, the procedure as above was repeated. No difference in number of fetuses, corpora lutei or born pups was noted between groups nor between generations. Litters from algae group were slightly heavier at the weaning, the females and males from algae group also developed slightly better than the ones from control group, this tendency was seen in all generations.