Total Cholesterol, Glucose, and Electrolytes in Piglets Serum after Α-ketoglutarate (akg) and Dexamethasone Treatment during Prenatal and Neonatal Life

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) and α-ketoglutarate (AKG) on the total cholesterol, glucose, Na, Cl, total Ca and K levels, in serum for newborn and neonate piglets. The blood samples were collected from newborn non-suckling piglets born by sows administered from the 91 d of pregnancy to the parturition with AKG and/or Dex (AKG-0.4 g/kg b.w./every day, orally; Dex-3 mg/sow, i.m. every second day). The second blood sampling was collected from the same piglets on the 14 d of their life, after further Dex and AKG administration in the same way as in sows. The serum total cholesterol level of control piglets was the highest, and reached the value of 40.6 mg%, whereas the level was the lowest in AKG group (27.9 mg%). The total cholesterol serum level in 14-d-old piglets in AKG+Dex and Dex groups reached 304 mg% and 273 mg%, respectively, in the AKG group only 155 mg%, while in the controls 197 mg%. The decreased total serum cholesterol level in newborn and neonatal piglets, after maternal and neonatal administration of AKG, indicated the same lowering effect. AKG given to sows during the last weeks of pregnancy decreased serum Na ,Cl and K levels in newborns, but did not influence after further administration to piglets during their 14 d of neonatal life. Increased serum K and total Ca levels in 14-day-old piglets from both groups treated with Dex and AKG+Dex, and Cl loss in Dex group were observed.