[Influence of dietary calcium/phosphorus ratio on blood calcium, phosphate and magnesium during gestation in the rabbit]. / Influence du rapport calcium/phosphore de la ration sur la calcémie, la phosphatémie et la magnésémie de la lapine en gestation.

ABSTRACT

Sixteen Thiès strain rabbits were used to study the effect of the calcium/phosphorus ratio on plasma calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium levels during pregnancy. Animals were allocated in 2 groups of 8 one receiving a diet with a Ca/P ratio of 10 and the other a diet with Ca/P ratio of 21. Water was given ad libitum for all rabbits. Results obtained showed that Ca blood level was significantly higher in rabbits receiving the diet with Ca/P ratio of 21 before covering and during the first week of pregnancy. During the last 15 d of pregnancy, Ca blood level decreased significantly in the 2 groups of animals. Plasma inorganic phosphorus and magnesium levels were not significantly different in the 2 groups of rabbits until the 2nd wk of pregnancy. But at the end of pregnancy, while phosphatemia and magnesemia decreased in rabbits fed a high Ca/P ratio, in the other group these parameters remained unchanged.