[Reference values of chemical constituents and plasma enzymes in minipigs]

Nine male minipigs Pitman Moore have been studied from weaning (To) and during 6 months and the following constituents have been measured: albumin, amylase, bilirubin, calcium, CK, cholesterol, creatinine, copper, iron, GGT, glucose, LDH, magnesium, PAL, phospholipids, potassium, proteins, sodium, ALT, ASP, triglycerides, urea, zinc. These animals were fed a standardized diet. At 6 months of age their weight increased progressively to 12 kg. Several factors of variation have been studied; time of blood sampling age of animals. We obtained the following results: values of bilirubin, CK and TGO were always lower at 8 a.m. than 12 a.m. and 6 p.m. The effects of age were variable. They are no variation in the values of only 4 parameters (calcium, sodium, potassium and triglycerides), while the others constituents were increased or decreased. Reference values for 21 blood parameters in Pitman Moore minipigs are described.