Profilo metabolico minerale ematico negli ovini all'inizio della gravidanza

Mineral metabolic profile in sheep at the beginning of pregnancy. Out a group of 28 sheep, of which 22 lactating, the behaviour of serum levels of Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase, Fe, Na, K, Mg, Cu, Zn and Cl were checked.The subjects, that were in the decreasing phase of milk secretion, had higher blood levels of Ca whether the sheep were pregnant or not. Serum levels of P were lower which reports hyperparathyroidism. Pregnancy was ascertained with greater frequency in these subjects. The study of AP gave inconclusive results. Blood levels of Mg were higher in lactating sheep and significantly lower in pregnant sheep. Blood lels of Fe were very variable with lower levels in lactating sheep.But blood levels of Cu, Zn, Na, K and Cl whether the sheep were lactating or non-lactating, whether the sheep were pregnant or non-pregnant,did not vary significantly. The beginning of pregnancy determined hyperadrenalism. The possible difference between subjects giving birth to one lamb or to twin lambs were controlled, and this was done before and after the conception, blood levels of Ca, P, AP, Mg, Zn, Na, K did not vary. However serum levels of Cu demonstred to be significantly higher (P<0,001) in sheep gining birth to twin lambs and this resulred also before the period of conception. Blood levels of Cl, on the contrary, were lower (P<0,05) but only before the period of cobception. The result is extremely interesting and is the object of further research.