PLASMA CHEMISTRY IN PEREGRINE FALCONS (FALCO-PEREGRINUS) - REFERENCE VALUES AND PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIATIONS OF IMPORTANCE FOR INTERPRETATION

Reference values (inner limits of the percentiles P-2.5 and P-97.5 are given with a probability of 95%) for 21 plasma chemical variables wer e established in 79 peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus). The followin g values were established: urea 0.8 to 3.9 mmol/l, creatinine 24 to 64 mu mol/l, glucose 16.5 to 22.0 mmol/l, sodium 150 to 170 mmol/l, chlo ride 114 to 131 mmol/l, inorganic phosphorus 0.55 to 1.53 mmol/l, osmo lality 322 to 356 mOsmol/kg, alkaline phosphatase 31 to 121 IU/l, alan ine aminotransferase 29 to 90 IU/l, aspartate aminotransferase 34 to 1 16 U/l, gamma glutamyl transferase 0 to 3 IU/l, lactate dehydrogenase 1008 to 2650 IU/l, creatine kinase 120 to 442 IU/l, cholinesterase 143 to 325 IU/l, glutamate dehydrogenase < 8 IU/l, total bile acids 5 to 69 mu mol/l, uric acid 253 to 995 mu mol/l, total protein 24 to 39 g/l , albumin 12.7 to 22.4 g/l. Reference values for the calculated albumi n/globulin (A/G) ratio were 0.8 to 24. Based on previous studies, refe rence values for calcium were established using an adjustment formula using plasma total protein concentrations (before correction 1.86 to 2 .49, after correction 1.97 to 2.46 mmol/l). Results of plasma potassiu m concentrations were erratic which was shown to be due to a time lag between sample collection and separation of plasma and cells.