[Plasma enzyme activities and acid-base equilibrium in sows in relation to the progress of labor]

Temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate as well as enzymatic activities (CK, CK-MB, AST, LDH), and characteristics of base-acid-balance (pH, BE, pCO2, Lactate) were taken from 52 pigs during the period shortly before and after they gave birth. 16 of them dropped normally, 21 with conservative obstetrics and 15 with obstetrical laparotomy. In pigs with obstetrical laparotomy temperature fell significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01). Concerning heart rate and breathing rate there were no differences between the tested animals. CK-data rose significantly during and after birth. Maximum test data occurred in test-groups with dystocia. At the same time the increase of CK-MB-activities was above average (p less than or equal to 0.001). The other enzymes (AST, LDH) also showed a significant increase of activity in all sows, especially in case of difficult birth (p less than or equal to 0.01 to 0.0001). Lactate-concentration and the test data of base-acid-balance underwent serious changes. During anaesthesia in case of obstetrical laparotomy and during the first hours after the operation pH and BE fell and pCO2 rose. The increase of Lactate-data was above average. While we find metabolic acidosis during normal but difficult births, a respiratory acidosis caused by anaesthesia is found additionally in case of laparotomy.