ECG Changes in Acute Experimental Ruminal Lactic Acidosis in Sheep

For induction of ruminal acidosis, ۱۰ clinically healthy three years old non pregnant female sheep were selected. Prior to the infusion of sucrose (۰ hour), rumen and blood samples were obtained in order to determine baseline rumen and blood pH, respectively. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was also recorded. Acute ruminal acidosis was induced experimentally with sucrose at a dose of ۱۸g kg-۱ body weigh through rumen fistula. ECG was recorded and blood and rumen samples collected at ۳, ۶, ۹, ۱۲, ۱۵, ۱۸, ۲۱, ۲۴, ۳۰, ۳۶, and ۴۸ hours after the infusion of sucrose. Results indicated that blood and rumen pH decreased significantly at ۱۵, ۱۸, ۲۱, ۲۴, ۳۰, ۳۶ and ۴۸ hours and at ۳, ۶, ۹, ۱۲, ۱۵, ۱۸, ۲۱, ۲۴, ۳۰, ۳۶ and ۴۸ hours, respectively. Acidosis produced a marked increasing in heart rate and a decrease in PR interval at ۱۵ and ۱۸ hour significantly with little apparent effect on the ST and PR segment. The P amplitude increased significantly at ۶, ۹, ۱۲, ۱۵, ۱۸, ۲۱, ۲۴ and ۳۰ hours. The T amplitude increased significantly at ۹, ۱۲, ۱۵, ۱۸, ۲۱, ۲۴, ۳۰ and ۳۶ hours. The RR interval decreased significantly at ۶, ۹, ۱۲, ۱۵, ۱۸, ۲۱, ۲۴, ۳۰, ۳۶ and ۴۸ hours. In conclusion acute ruminal acidosis caused significant changes in ECG of sheep though there was not any detectable arrhythmia in the ECG in acute ruminal acidosis.

Keywords:

Acute Experimental Ruminal Acidosis , ECG , Sheep