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Blood pathophysiological changes in sheep following a prolonged (18-hour) period of hypocalcaemia induced by Na2EDTA
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Queensland, Australia.
Abstract:
Six aged Merino ewes were used in an experiment in which five were infused with 4.7% Na2EDTA solution intravenously for 18 h at a rate designed to produce hypocalcaemia and maintain recumbency, and five with 0.9% sodium chloride solution at the same rate for the same period (four were infused at different times with both solutions). Blood samples were collected every 3 h and determinations made of plasma Ca, Na, K, Mg, and inorganic P (PiP), erythrocyte Na, K and Mg, and PCV. Three of the hypocalcaemic sheep took 36-64 h to regain their feet. Plasma Ca and K, and erythrocyte Na showed significant (all P less than 0.01) decreases in the group infused with Na2EDTA compared with the group infused with saline while PCVs were significantly (P less than 0.01) greater in the former group. The sheep model used could be suitable for the study of the effects of prolonged hypocalcaemia and recumbency in cows.
