Concentrations of intermediate metabolites in the blood and hepatic tissues of pregnant and non-pregnant ewes

Abstract

Six late pregnant and six non-pregnant Finnish Landrace x Dorset Horn ewes were fed a standard diet. Blood and liver samples were taken and the concentrations of the following metabolites measured: adenine monophosphate (AMP), adenine diphosphate (ADP), adenine triphosphate (ATP), citrate, 2-oxoglutarate, phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate, lactate, 2-phosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, malate, /?-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, glutamate, alanine, NAD+ and NADH. Comparing non-pregnant with pregnant ewes the liver of the pregnant animals had reduced concentrations of lactate, ADP, NAD + and NADH, and in the blood there were reductions in lactate, pyruvate, lactate/pyruvate ratio and urea. The concentrations of the other metabolites of the pregnant ewes receiving adequate nutrition were little changed from those of the non-pregnant ewes. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Effects of undernutrition during late pregnancy on gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis in twin-pregnant ewes

“…One of the main problems is the effect of body reserves on the response to undernourishment during late pregnancy and maximal foetal growth (Robinson et al, 1977 (Tissier and Theriez, 1978 (Rémésy and Demigné, 1976 (Heitmann and Bergman,1978) ; this fact must be taken into account in ewes with ketoacidosis. The plasma alanine is low when ketogenesis occurs, whereas hepatic alanine concentration decreased at the end of gestation (Herriman et al, 1976). This point agrees with the strongly antiketogenic action of alanine in the ruminant (Demigné and Rémésy, 1977).…”

The effects of fasting on the concentrations of intermediate metabolites in the blood and hepatic tissues of pregnant and non-pregnant ewes

“…Five non-pregnant and four ewes more than 120 days pregnant were housed and fed under conditions similar to those described by Herriman et al (1976). The ewes were aged from 19 to 28 months and their body weight ranged from 49-2 to 64-8 kg.…”

“…The procedure employed for the liver biopsy, the preparation of blood and liver samples and the assay of steady state concentrations of metabolites were similar to those previously described (Herriman et al 1976). RESULTS…”

“…HEITZMAN documented in cows (Baird, Heitzman & Hibbitt, 1972), have received little attention in sheep. We have in this paper considered the implications of simple starvation upon aspects of the intermediary metabolism as illustrated by the concentrations of intermediate metabolites in the blood and in the liver of well-fed late-pregnant and non-pregnant ewes (Herriman et al 1976). The results will provide a baseline for comparison with data from sheep suffering with pregnancy toxaemia, which is associated with inadequate dietary management or dietary restriction, and inter-related to climatic conditions, together with multiple foetuses and a variable stress factor (Reid, 1968).…”

Revue bibliographique : Variations quantitatives et métabolisme des lipides dans les tissus adipeux et le foie au cours du cycle gestation-lactation 2e partie : chez la brebis et la vache

“…Les teneurs en AGNE plasmatiques augmentent fortement dans les jours qui précèdent et qui suivent la mise-bas, restent élevées jusqu'au pic de lactation, puis diminuent (Graham, 1964 ;Noble et al, 1971 ;Comline et Silver, 1972 ;Leat, 1974 ;Vernon et al, 1981 ;Smith et Walsh, 1984 (Adler et Lotan, 1967 ; Hinks, 1962b ;Tissier et al, 1975Tissier et al, , 1977Cowan et al, 1980, 19811 Hogue, 1967 ;Katz et Bergman, 1969 ;Lindsay, 1971 ;Mackie et Campbell, 1972 ;Steel et Leng, 1973 ;Bergman et al, 1974 ;Herriman et al, 1976 ;Prior et Christenson, 1976 ; Egan, 1983 ;Wilson et al, 1983 ; Van der Walt, 1984 (Leng, 1965 ;Patterson, 1966 ;Reid, 1963Reid, , 1968Katz et Bergman, 1969 ;Kronfeld, 1972 ;Demigné et al, 1976 ;Rémésy et Démigné, 1976Tissier et al, 1977 ;Stern et al, 1979 Hinks, 1962b, c ;Charton et al, 1965 ; Kennely, 1984a (Wallace, 1948a ; Hinks, 1962b ;Peart, 1967…”