Sex differences in blood constituents of rats following tail suspension

Tail suspension was utilized to study sex differences in the effects of hypokinesia on blood constituents of rats. Twelve male and twelve female rats were used. After four weeks of exposure to tail suspension or non-treatment, the rats were laparotomized under ether anesthesia and blood samples were obtained. Biochemical tests on the blood samples were then performed immediately. Hematocrit and serum iron were also estimated. The results were as follows: 1) The same tendencies were noted in blood constituents between male and female rats in the control group and the tail suspension group. 2) The average levels of blood albumin, creatinine, uric acid, glucose, triglyceride, serum iron and hemoglobin in the tail suspension group were lower than those in the control group, especially in male rats.