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CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF SHEEP FETAL FLUIDS DURING EARLY PREGNANCY

Summary.: The composition of sheep fetal fluids obtained on Days 22, 31 and 44 of pregnancy has been studied.

The osmotic pressure of allantoic fluid was low and its volume increased twofold between Days 31 and 44 of pregnancy. A seventeenfold increase in volume occurred in the amniotic fluid over the same period.

Fructose was the main reducing sugar present and increased in concentration in the allantoic fluid between Days 31 and 44 of pregnancy. During this time, the allantoic fluid also showed an increase in sorbitol, protein, amino acids, calcium and magnesium and a decrease in lactic acid, potassium and bicarbonate. Amniotic fluid was more constant in composition and had a lower total reducing sugar, fructose, protein, sorbitol, amino acid, calcium and magnesium content and higher sodium, potassium and chloride content than allantoic fluid. Phosphorus occurred in low concentration in both fluids.

Glutamic acid was the only acidic amino acid present in allantoic fluid and occurred in lower concentration than glutamine. Alanine and glycine were the major neutral amino acids, with lower concentrations of serine, valine, threonine and leucine/isoleucine being present. Basic amino acids made up about 30% of the total. Substantial increases occurred in the concentrations of alanine, glutamic acid, glutamine and serine in the allantoic fluid between Days 31 and 44 of pregnancy.

The changes in the composition of allantoic fluid suggest that major developmental changes in metabolic activity are occurring in the sheep fetus between Days 31 and 44 of pregnancy.

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