Plasma concentrations of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (N.E.F.A.) in the pregnant and lactating ewe and the effect of dietary restriction

Abstract

1. The effect of undernutrition on the levels of plasma glucose, N.E.F.A. and ketone bodies was observed in fourteen Suffolk-cross ewes late in pregnancy by comparing with data obtained on seven control ewes of comparable pregnancy status. An attempt is made to relate these changes with plasma triglyceride levels, liver fat deposition and plasma pigmentation.2. Evidence is presented which shows that while plasma glucose values are normally distributed, plasma N.E.F.A. levels show a positively skew distribution. This abnormality is corrected by transforming plasma N.E.F.A. values to their logarithms.