Pathologic and endocrinologic changes associated with porcine agalactia
Nachreiner, R.F.; Ginther, O.J.; Ribelin, W.E.; Carlson, I.H.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 32(7): 1065-1075
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 5104396 Document Number: 32702
Seven sows with agalactia were compared with seven control sows; all were killed at 48 plus or minus 12 hours after parturition. Pigs from affected sows weighed less (affected, 1.19 kg; control, 7.42 kg). Mastitis was associated with agalactia (affected, 6 of 7; control, 1 of 7), but vaginal discharge was not (affected, 2 of 7; controls, 1 of 7). Affected sows had increased a percentage of mammary glands with moderate to severe mastitis (affected, 33.9%/sow; control, 8.9%/sow). Serum chemistry profiles of affected sows differed from those of the control sows only in decreased albumin concentration (affected, 1.3 g/100 ml; control, 1.6 g/100 ml) and depressed albumin-globulin ratio (affected, 0.21/1; control, 0.28/1). In the affected sows, adrenal glands were heavier (affected, 12.70 g; control, 9.10 g), adrenal fasciculata-reticularis width was greater (affected, 2.20 mm; control, 1.61 mm), cells per field at 1,000 X were decreased in both the outer zona fasciculata (affected, 106; control, 121) and the inner zona fasciculata (affected, 95; control, 110), plasma cortisol concentration was increased (affected, 21.50 mu g/ 100 ml; control, 15.26 mu g/100 ml), adrenal ascorbic acid was depleted (affected, 0.24 mg/g; control, 0.34 mg/g), and circulating eosinophils tended to be depleted (affected, 1,155/cmm; control, 2,056/cmm). These findings indicate that the agalactia was associated with an increase in adrenal cortical function.