EFFECT OF CALCIUM PHOSPHORUS RATIO ON PLA SMA CALCIUM, INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS AND MAGNESIUM LEVELS DURING PREGNANCY IN THE RABBIT

Sixteen Thies Strain rabbits were used to study the effect of the calc ium/phosphorus ratio on plasma calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magne sium levels during pregnancy. Animals were allocated in 2 groups of 8: one receiving a diet with a Ca/P ratio of 1:0 and the other a diet wi th Ca/P ratio of 2: 1. Water was given ad libitum for all rabbits. Res ults obtained showed that Ca blood level was significantly higher in r abbits receiving the diet with Ca/P ratio of 2:1 before covering and d uring the first week of pregnancy. During the last 15 d of pregnancy, Ca blood level decreased significantly in the 2 groups of animals. Pla sma inorganic phosphorus and magnesium levels were not significantly d ifferent in the 2 groups of rabbits until the 2nd wk of pregnancy. But at the end of pregnancy, while phosphatemia and magnesemia decreased in rabbits fed a high Ca/P ratio, in the other group these parameters remained unchanged.