Selected biochemical parameters in captive mountain tortoises (Geochelone pardalis).

The concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total protein, albumin, inorganic phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, aspartate and alanine transaminases (AST and ALT), creatine kinase (CK), lactic acid dehydrogenase (LD), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin in the serum of a captive population of the mountain tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) (n = 13) were determined. Results varied considerably, particularly for most enzymes such as AST (11-113 U/l,ALT (1-72 U/l), CK (12-242 U/l), LD (147-2641 U/l) and ALP (56-168 U/l).