Lifetime reproductive performance of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) with 1 or 2 ovaries

The lifetime reproductive performance of Mongolian gerbils from which an ovary had been removed 7 days before pairing at 100 days of age was only slightly inferior to that of normal females. A general decline in fertility was evident only in the oldest females. The mean number of litters, young born and age at last parturition were 7.6 +/- 3.8, 37 +/- 20 and 462 +/- 196 days (2 ovaries) compared with 6.9 +/- 3.5, 30 +/- 16 and 417 +/- 142 days (1 ovary) respectively.