title: Changes in blood glucose, plasma non-esterified fatty acids and insulin in pregnant and non-pregnant goats.
abstract: The blood glucose and the plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and insulin concentrations were estimated in jugular blood samples from 18 Alpine x Beetal and Sannen x Beetal goats during pregnancy and compared with samples from non-pregnant goats and from goats during the periparturient period. The blood glucose levels in the pregnant goats rose to a peak of about 60 +/- 1.36 mg/ml at 42-56 days and then declined to about 46 +/- 2.37 mg/ml at 112-126 days. In non-pregnant goats, the blood glucose levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in pregnant goats, except between days 42 and 70 (59 +/- 1.36 mg/ml). On the day of kidding, the levels declined significantly (p < 0.01), increasing again thereafter. The plasma NEFA concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant than in non-pregnant goats from days 56 to 126. The NEFA concentration increased on the day of kidding, followed by a transient fall by day 3. The plasma insulin concentration was usually higher in pregnant than in non-pregnant goats, except between days 56 and 70 and from day 126 onwards. The insulin concentration fell late in pregnancy, but there was a transient increase 2 days after parturition. The blood glucose and plasma NEFA concentrations can be used as indices of nutritional status during pregnancy in goats.
authors.affiliation: Dairy Cattle Physiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ludri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin