Serum Metabolites of Pregnant and Hysterectomized Gilts Fed Two Levels of Energy

Abstract

REPRODUCTION imposes a stress on maternal metabolism and increases the requirements for nutrients, particularly during the last third of gestation and during lactation. Although some information has been recorded for humans and sheep, a dearth of information exists for reproducing swine as to the blood constituents and how they may be influenced by nutritional treatments or physiological states.

Ablation of the sow's uterus has been shown to produce a physiological state comparable to that of pregnancy, with the following similarities; maintenance and duration of functional corpora lutea (du Buisson and Dauzier, 1959; Anderson, Butcher and Melampy, 196t), progesterone levels in luteaI tissue (Belt et al., 1970), relaxin levels in luteal tissue (Anderson et al., 1970) and protein anabolism (Rombauts and du Buisson, 1964).

© American Society of Animal Science 1971