The effect of prolonged exposure of pregnant rats to high ambient temperature on several constituents of the genital tract's fluids.
1. Various constituents of the genital tract's (GT) fluids were measured in heat-exposed rats (kept for at least 30 days at 35 +/- 1 degree C) and control rats (maintained at 22 +/- 2 degrees C). 2. There were no differences between the groups in the GT fluid volume, protein, free amino acids and glucose contents. 3. Arterial and venous blood glucose levels, pO2 and pH values were similar in both groups. 4. GT fluid protein hydrolysate from heat-exposed rats showed significantly reduced contents of glycine and alanine and elevated contents of valine and lysine as compared with controls. 5. The GT fluid's free amino acid components showed reduced glycine and elevated valine and isoleucine in the heat-exposed group as compared with controls. 6. Progesterone levels in GT fluid of heat-exposed rats was 60% higher than that of controls. 7. It is suggested that the higher progesterone concentration and the altered relative contents of several free amino acids with a possible change in the proteins of the GT fluid may affect the development of the embryo in heat-exposed rats.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats
D000596:Amino Acids; D011374:Progesterone; D005947:Glucose