Effects of starvation, surgery and infusion of adrenocorticotrophin on plasma amino acid concentration in the pregnant ewe.
Total plasma amino acid concentrations (TAA) in 12 Scottish Blackface ewes between 80 and 140 days of pregnancy were unaltered by two days of starvation, but concentrations of essential amino acids (EAA) increased and non-essential amino acid (NAA) levels decreased. These trends were more pronounced later in pregnancy. Ewes fasted before surgery to implant fetal catheters showed marked reductions in mean TAA levels (--26 per cent, n-5) on the day after operation (day+ 1). Half of this decrease was accounted for by glycine. Mean concentrations of NAA increased after day +1 but by day +6 were still 15 per cent below baseline values. In contrast mean plasma concentrations of EAA were 31 per cent above prestarvation  levels on day +6 and maximal on day +4(+39 per cent). Following a two-day fast, sheep given half rations and simultaneously infused with adrenocorticotrophin showed changes in plasma-free amino acid composition like those observed during the two days after operation. Disturbances to plasma amino acid concetrations persisted for up to 12 days after operation and are attributed to the preoperative starvation and the combined effects of irregular feeding patterns and elevated plasma corticosteroid levels during and after operation.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D000601:Amino Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D013217:Starvation / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus / Q000601:surgery*
D000596:Amino Acids; D000601:Amino Acids, Essential; D001786:Blood Glucose; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone