EFFECTS OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) ON HEPATIC ACETATE METABOLISM IN LACTATING AND NON LACTATING SHEEP

Abstract

The studies were undertaken to investigate effects of GH on hepatic acetate metabolism in lactating and non-lactating sheep. Five lactating and 5 non-lactating crossbred ewes were used in this experiment. Five ewes were infused continuously and simultaneously with [V-l4C] sodium acetate (5.14 x I04 Bq/ml) at the rate of 0.3 ml/min for 4 hours (lactating ewes) and 5 hours (non-lactating ewes), via the jugular vein. Blood flows in hepatic and portal veins were measured using para-amino hippuric acid (PAH). Results showed GH did not affect hepatic
metabolism of acetate in non-and lactating ewes.