Dietary deprivation induces fetal loss and abortion in rabbits

We assessed the effects of a pared diet (20, 60 or 150 g/day for days 6-20 after coitus) on the course of pregnancy in rabbits. Dams receiving 20 g/day manifested a marked weight loss, 5 of 6 animals aborted and in the remaining dam, the litter size, fetal and placental weight were significantly lower than in the controls. In the 60 g/day group, the maternal body weight remained stable throughout the observation period; the number of dead embryos on fetuses was significantly higher, that of liver fetuses lower, than in he controls. Feedings on the 150 g/day group did not markedly differ from the controls, indicating that pregnant rabbits require at least 150 g of food/day.