Physiological and biochemical measurements before, during and after pregnancy of healthy rats

Abstract

PURPOSE:To analyze the physiological and biochemical measurements before, during and after pregnancy of healthy rats. METHODS:Wistar adult females rats (n=8) were weighed and blood samples were obtained before, during and after pregnancy for biochemical determinations, chow intake, water consumption and milk production were evaluated. At day 10 postpartum, the rats were killed for weighing of organs and adipose tissues. RESULTS:The results showed increase in body weight, serum insulin and ingestion of water and chow. At day 17 pregnancy, presented normal values in the OGTT. At days 7, 14 and 20 of pregnancy, there was increase in triglyceride levels. At term pregnancy, there was weight gain due to fetal growth. In the postpartum period presented reduced blood glucose levels. The glycemic means were reduced during and after pregnancy compared to after pregnancy. The triglyceride concentrations were increased before and during pregnancy in relation to after pregnancy. The total cholesterol levels presented no changes. CONCLUSION:The use of experimental animals is suitable for evaluation of metabolic changes because the profile of answers found in this study was similar to human profile, showing the relevance of translational research to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms and possible treatment for diseases.

Evaluation of Mineral Concentrations in Maternal Serum Before and After Birth and in Newborn Cord Blood Postpartum—Preliminary Study

“…Decreasing of magnesium in serum after delivery may be related to biochemical and hormonal changes in the maternal body during delivery and postpartum and also combined with intense stress and physical effort. Lower albumin and higher cortisol levels were found in serum after delivery [ 16 , 17 ]. It is known that much of magnesium in the blood is carried by albumin, and also, a relation between emotional and physical stress and loss of magnesium was shown in other experimental and human studies [ 16 , 18 ].…”

Metabolic Alternations During Gestation in Dezhou Donkeys and the Link to the Gut Microbiota

“…Additionally, oxidative stress ( Toboła-Wróbel et al, 2020 ) and immunological challenges ( Mor and Cardenas, 2010 ; Nair et al, 2017 ) might also occur during the pregnancy period. It has been reported that physiological biochemical changes occur during pregnancy in humans ( Dai et al, 2018 ; Stokkeland et al, 2019 ), rats ( Corvino et al, 2015 ) and sows ( Shao et al, 2020 ). In the equine ass, several studies have also reported blood biochemical changes during pregnancy, including in horses and donkeys ( Vincze et al, 2015 ; Bonelli et al, 2016 ; Gloria et al, 2018 ; Liao Q. et al, 2021 ), but every species has particular blood biochemical changes related to gestation ( Gloria et al, 2018 ) due to different anatomy and metabolic conditions in different species.…”

Plasmodium berghei infection associated with adverse birth outcomes in pregnant Swiss albino mice

“…Many physiological adaptations are required for a successful pregnancy outcome. These adaptations involve metabolism changes in most organ systems, resulting in changes in the biochemical composition of the blood (Corvino et al, 2015). Studies have shown that both pathological and biochemical alterations caused by malaria during pregnancy might account for the maternal foetal compromised relationship (Nayyar et al, 2007).…”

“…Furthermore, most studies investigating the association between malaria during pregnancy and its diverse effects do not consider gestational age. Therefore, laboratory animal investigations are pertinent and contribute to knowledge, human health and societal development (Corvino et al, 2015).…”