CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID AND PLASMA-GLUCOSE CONCENTRATIONS OF OVINE PREGNANCY TOXEMIA CASES, INAPPETANT EWES AND NORMAL EWES DURING LATE-GESTATION

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma glucose concentrations of spontan eous ovine pregnancy toxaemia cases, determined within 24 h of the ons et of clinical signs, were significantly lower (P<0.01) compared to in appetant ewes and healthy ewes at a similar stage of gestation. A high ly significant correlation (P<0.001, r=0.91) was present between the p lasma and CSF glucose concentrations when the data from the three grou ps were combined. The data suggest that plasma glucose concentration a ccurately reflects CSF glucose concentration across the range of energ y states in pregnant ewes and may provide support for the postulate th at the neurological signs of ovine pregnancy toxaemia result from cere bral hypoglycaemia, as reflected by CSF glucose concentration. No cere bral glucose estimations were undertaken in this series.