Biochemical Indices in Sheep During Different Stages of Pregnancy

The biochemical evaluation of sheep and its foetal fluids was carried out at different stages of pregnancy. The whole study consisted of fifty two numbers of gravid genitalia collected from the local slaughter houses present in and around Srinagar city. In the present study the gravid uteri of sheep ranging from 14 to 140 days of gestation was divided into 5 groups e.g., Group A (GpA), Range: 14-57 days and Mean: 41.40 +/- 2.17; Group B (GpB), Range: 58-74 and Mean: 67.87 +/- 1.38; Group C (GpC), Range: 75-93 and Mean: 89.20 +/- 2.33, Group D (GpD), Range: 94-120 and Mean: 110.60 +/- 3.14 and Group E (GpE), Range: 121-140 and Mean: 130.0 +/- 2.79. The pH in amniotic and allantoic fluid showed shift from slight alkaline behaviour to slight acidic. While in maternal serum it remained almost alkaline throughout in different stages of pregnancy. Glucose level decreased in foetal fluids while increased in serum. A gradual increase in total protein was observed in foetal fluids and serum with a marked increase at late pregnancy. Total protein showed gradual increase with marked increase in serum during late pregnancy. Creatinine, urea and urea nitrogen showed marked increase in foetal fluids as well as in maternal serum. No change was detected in cholesterol level in amniotic as well as in allantoic fluid while a significant decrease in the level was observed in maternal serum during different stages of pregnancy. Level of transaminases (Alanine aminotransferase and Aspartate aminotransferase) remained almost constant in foetal fluids with a gradual decrease in maternal serum at various stages of pregnancy. Alkaline phosphatase showed increasing trend with gestation in foetal fluids and maternal serum as well.