Biochemical diagnostics of hepatodystrophy in sows during gestation

The article presents information on changes in the biochemical composition of blood in sows of different ages (previously unproduced – with one farrowing; with two or three farrowings; with four or more farrowings) and different gestation periods (30; 60 and 90 days). The established changes in the biochemical composition of blood serum in pregnant sows charac- terized signs of biochemical syndrome of hepatocellular insufficiency, the development of intoxi- cation, cytolysis and cholestasis. The development of biochemical syndrome of hepatic cell failure and intoxication was indicated by absolute hypoalbuminemia, decreased albumin-protein and in- creased creatinine concentration in the blood serum, respectively. The content of urea in the blood serum (decrease or being within the physiological fluctuations) also characterized the syndrome of hepatic cell failure. Changes in the indices of carbohydrate, lipid and pigment metabolism in sows of different ages and periods of gestation showed that with increasing age and period of gestation, dystrophic processes developed in the liver, characterized by a statistically significant decrease in the concentrations of total cholesterol and triglycerides. Also, with an increase in the number of farrowings and the period of gestation, the content of total bilirubin in the blood serum increased, which indicated the destruction or increase in the permeability of hepatocyte membranes (cytoly- sis syndrome). Analysis of the enzyme activity level showed the presence of changes in sowschar- acteristic of biochemical syndromes of cholestasis, cytolysis and hepatocellular insufficiency. At the same time, biochemical signs of hepatodepression and cholestasis were characteristic of sows in all periods of gestation, and cytolysis only in its early stages (at 30 and 60 days). In sows with a large number of farrowings, the severity of signs indicating the development of hepatodepression and cholestasis increased at different stages of gestation with a decrease in the severity of cytolysis signs in the final period of gestation.