Effect of sodium nitrite on reproductive performance of pregnant sows
Sleight, S.D.; Sinha, D.P.; Uzoukwu, M.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 161(7): 819-823
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 4672571 Document Number: 51079
Severe toxicosis was induced in 15 pregnant sows given sodium nitrite s/c at the rate of 21 to 35 mg/kg body weight. Two of 9 sows in the last third of gestation died and 6 had normal litters; in 1 sow, 2 of 9 foetuses died during the period of toxicosis. Methaemoglobin was not detected in blood from foetuses removed from the sows that died. Five of 6 sows survived acute nitrite toxicosis during the first month of pregnancy without any apparent effect on their foetuses. Hysterotomy was done on 11 pregnant sows suffering from induced nitrite toxicosis. Oxygen saturation of foetal blood was considerably decreased when maternal methaemoglobin concentrations were highest. With only 3 exceptions, foetuses survived until or after the dam died. Only minimal amounts of methaemoglobin could be deducted in foetal blood.