[Biochemical and histological studies of cows with ketosis]

Biochemical and histological investigations were carried out with cows affected with ketosis in a subclinical and clinical form. Parellel studies were performed with normal (control) cows originating from the herds with the ill animals and manifesting the same physiologic status. It was found that the blood level of glucose in the diseased cows was lowered more than 2.6 times, and the content of ketone bodies was higher-- it was increased 4.6 times, that of total lipids was 2.6 times higher, and that of free fatty acids was 3.5 times higher as compared to the same indices in the controls. The blood content of pyruvate in the affected cows was also increased. The liver glycogen in these animals was lowered from 2.1 to 4.1 times. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was lower, and that of glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase was higher as against the same indices shown by normal cows.