Variation in certain hematological and biochemical parameters during the peri-partum period in Kilis does

Twenty-eight healthy female Kilis goats were used to investigate the changes which occur in certain hematological and biochemical plasma parameters during the peri-partum period. The hematological parameters recorded were Ca, P, total protein, total cholesterol, Glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). A marked decrease (p < 0.01) in RBC from 18.03 ± 0.30 (count x 10⁶/mm³) was recorded from early gestation to 16.94 ± 0.23 and 15.40 ± 0.49 and 20.94 ± 1.52 and 16.50 ± 0.54 during mid-pregnancy, late pregnancy, parturition and postpartum, respectively. In addition, no significant change in Hb concentration at 11 and 18 weeks of gestation and the 3rd week after parturition was recorded. The observed leucocytosis postpartum was accompained with lymphopenia and eosinopenia (p < 0.01), and with neutrophilosis (p < 0.05). Monocytes decreased (p < 0.05) at the 4th and 11th week of gestation, as well as at the 18th and 21th week of gestation and the 3rd week postpartum (p < 0.01). Plasma Ca levels declined markedly (p < 0.01) during late pregnancy, parturition and the 3rd week postpartum. A significant (p < 0.01) decrease in plasma total protein content from 113.65 ± 0.42 g/dl was recorded from early during pregnancy, to 10.48 ± 0.44 and 9.78 ± 51.13 g/dl during late pregnancy and parturition, respectively. Total cholesterol content increased (p < 0.01) from the 12th to 18th week of pregnancy, at parturition and 3 weeks postpartum. A significant (p < 0.01) increase in plasma cholesterol content from 104 ± 0.29 mg/dl was recorded from early in pregnancy, to 110.67 ± 6.92 and 114.87 ± 5.2 g/dl during mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy, respectively. Plasma GOT and GGT activities increased (p < 0.01) during week 11 and 18 of pregnancy, at parturition and 3 weeks postpartum. It can be concluded that during late pregnancy, partus and postpartum, certain hematological and biochemical parameters were accompained with marked changes. Female goats may thus adapt to a marked variation in some important biochemical parameters during these physiological stages of metabolic stress via different physiological mechanisms.