Hc. Freetly et al., VISCERAL OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION DURING CHRONIC FEED RESTRICTION AND REALIMENTATION IN SHEEP, Journal of animal science, 73(3), 1995, pp. 843-852
The objectives of this study were twofold: first, to estimate the time
required to reach equilibrium in splanchnic tissue oxygen (O-2) consu
mption rates after a feed restriction that maintained BW; and second,
to estimate the time following a subsequent realimentation required to
reach equilibrium. Catheters were placed in a cranial mesenteric vein
, the portal vein, a branch of the hepatic vein, and the abdominal aor
ta of six wethers. Wethers were allowed to eat ad libitum 2 h/d. At 49
.9 +/- 2.7 kg two wethers were assigned to the high group, which conti
nued to receive the 2 h/d ad libitum meal. Four wethers were assigned
to the low group for 80 d and were restricted to 70% of the average me
al each consumed during the week before restriction. Hepatic and porta
l-drained viscera (PDV) O-2 consumption rates were determined the day
before restriction (day 0) and on d 10, 24, 38, 52, 66, and 80 of rest
riction. After d 80 of restriction, wethers assigned to the low group
were fed the 2 h/d ad libitum meal, and hepatic and PDV O-2 consumptio
n rates were determined on d 7, 14, 28, and 42 of realimentation. At 8
0 d of restriction, PDV and hepatic O-2 consumptions were 60 and 65%,
respectively, of the d-0 rate. Hepatic tissue required 21 d and PDV re
quired 29 d to be within 5% of the new steady-state O-2 consumption ra
tes after restriction.