Masters Theses

Date of Award

6-1976

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Animal Science

Major Professor

Sam L. Hansard

Committee Members

J. K. Miller, K. M. Barth, E. W. Swanson

Abstract

The effects of glucagon and potassium (K) infusion on plasma magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), immunereactive insulin (IRI), and glu-cose in the bovine were measured to investigate their possible involve-ment in hypomagnesemic tetany. Intravenous infusion of 1 mg glucagon, dissolved in saline, into Holstein bull calves rapidly increased plasma IRI and glucose concentrations, whereas infusion of saline only showed no effect. Glucagon infusion decreased plasma K but did not change plasma Mg or Ca. Urinary Mg and Ca losses increased mod-erately during infusion of glucagon, but not saline. Plasma levels of both K and IRI were elevated (P < .01) in calves by 1.14, 2, and 3% potassium chloride (KCl) intravenous infusion, and cows by intraruminal infusion of 550 g of KCl. Plasma K was lower (P < .01) and IRI higher (P < .01) in Mg-deficient calves than in normal calves during 2% KCl infusion. Elevated plasma K and IRI were accompanied by lower plasma glucose in normal calves (P < .05) and cows (P < .001). The vigorous release of IRI stimulated by K and enhanced by low plasma Mg could at least partially account for low plasma glucose sometimes accompanying clinical signs of grass tetany and may be involved in the etiology of the disease.

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