Comparison of fasting ketosis in pregnant and nonpregnant guinea pigs

¹ Division of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

It was found that late-pregnant guinea pigs usually developed initially lower blood glucose and markedly higher blood acetone concentrations when fasted for 3 days than did nonpregnant controls. When parturition did not occur, nearly all the late-pregnant animals became ill during this fasting period and died 1–4 days after replacement of the feed. Some animals that underwent parturition after the onset of symptoms died. The symptoms exhibited, effects of fetal maturity and numbers, necropsy findings, fat content of the livers, blood urea nitrogen concentration, reduced output of CO₂, ketonemia, early hypoglycemia and, later, euglycemia or hyperglycemia, suggest a marked similarity of this starvation syndrome to ‘pregnancy toxemia’ of ewes and guinea pigs.