Changes in metabolic plasma and serum hormones in female rabbits fed on diets with canola meal gradually replacing soybean meal

Abstract

Possible changes in plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, serum levels of estradiol, progesterone, insulin, T₃ and T₄ in female rabbits are evaluated. Rabbits were fed on soybean meal in a gradual substitution (00%, 33%, 66% and 100%) by canola meal. Rabbits aged 43 to 225 days, on completing first pregnancy and lactation. Forty White New Zealand rabbits female were used in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and 10 replications. At 43, 80, 150, 184 and 225 days old the animals underwent heart puncture for blood collection. Females were mated at 150 days. Levels of glucose plasma, triglycerides, total cholesterol and urea failed to show any significant variations with regard to treatment. However, a quadratic effect was reported with regard to time. There was no significant change in serum levels of estradiol (E₂), progesterone, insulin, T₃ and T₄ attributed to treatment. Progesterone and T₄ showed a quadratic behavior with regard to time. Feeding did not interfere in parameters. Changes recorded might be attributed to environmental and/or physiological variations experimented by animals during the period.