The Effects of Time, Protein Intake Level, Lactation and Dehydration on some Renal Indices in Nubian goat

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of time, low dietary protein level, lactation and dehydration on some urinary indices of renal function in Nubian goats. Urine physical properties (pH ,volume and specific gravity) ,endogenous creatinine clearance, urea clearance, urine concentration of electrolytes, total protein, non protein nitrogenous compounds and total execratory rate of electrolytes (Na, k, Cl, Ca, Mg, Po4) and total protein were measured. Ten mature non pregnant and non lactating Nubian goats with an average age 3 to 4 years weighing about 22.5 kg were used for each experiments. Ten lactating goats were used to study the effect of lactation in addition to the control group of ten non pregnant and non lactating goats. The animals were fitted with modified catheter using aseptic technique. Urine was collected at eight hours time period over 48 or 96 hours in sterile urine collection bags. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein at the end of each collection period. The urine pH and volume of the third collection period were significantly higher than that of the other two collection periods. The time did not induce any significant effect on either the excretory rate of the electrolytes, or total protein. The creatinine clearance followed the same trend. Urinary concentration of urea and uric acid were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the time. xii The urine physical characteristics did not vary with the dietary protein level. Feeding low dietary protein level was associated with a highly (P<0.01) significant decrease in the creatinine clearance, urea clearance and total execratory rate of electrolytes and the total protein. Neither the urine specific gravity nor the urine pH was affected by lactation. Lactation exerted a significant (P<0.05) reduction on the urine volume, creatinine clearance, urea clearance and total excretory rate of electrolytes and total protein. Dehydration did not affect the urine pH or the urinary concentration of three of the measured electrolytes (K, Cl, and Ca). The dehydrated goats obtained a significantly (P<0.05) higher urinary concentration of some electrolytes (Na, Mg, PO4), total protein and non protein nitrogenous compounds than the control group.