Faculty Collaboration Database

Impact of the ovarian cycle and pregnancy on plasma chemistry values in ewes. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Mar;30(2):238-244

Date

01/03/2018

Pubmed ID

29291683

Pubmed Central ID

PMC5810928

DOI

10.1177/1040638717752217

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85041720363 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   4 Citations

Abstract

Normative data for plasma chemistry values in pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive age ewes are scant. Availability of data would aid monitoring of ewe health for both research and veterinary medicine. We determined specific plasma chemistry 95% confidence reference intervals (RIs) in non-pregnant and pregnant ewes. Mixed Western-breed ewes were grouped based on phase of ovarian cycle: luteal ( n = 15), follicular ( n = 17), or late-gestation pregnant ( n = 102). Plasma samples were collected for analysis on a commercial biochemical analyzer. For RIs, chemistry panels for the 3 groups of ewes included nutrients and metabolites (glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, and bilirubin), enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]), and micronutrients (calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, and chloride). Sample chemistry values for glucose and total protein in pregnant ewes were lower than in follicular ewes; cholesterol was lower in pregnant and luteal ewes than in follicular ewes. In addition, total bilirubin in pregnant ewes differed from that in luteal ewes, and that in follicular ewes also differed from luteal ewes. ALP in pregnant ewes was higher than other groups; phosphorus in pregnant ewes was lower than in luteal ewes. Iron was higher in pregnant ewes than in luteal ewes, with iron in luteal ewes lower than in follicular ewes. These data provide clinical RIs comparing pregnant and non-pregnant ewes for use in monitoring ewe health in both human research and veterinary medicine.

Author List

Zywicki ME, Blohowiak SE, Magness RR, Segar JL, Kling PJ

Author

Jeffrey L. Segar MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Alanine Transaminase
Albumins
Animals
Bilirubin
Blood Chemical Analysis
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Estrous Cycle
Female
Micronutrients
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Animal
Reference Values
Sheep
Triglycerides