Determination of Liver Function, Plasma and Blood Volumes in Ketotic Cows, Using Bromsulphalein

Abstract

Liver function in 6 ketotic cows was markedly depressed, as compared to 5 normal control cows, as shown by the bromsulphalein (BSP) fractional clearance method, being 0.089 and 0.192, respectively. The difference in these values was highly significant statistically (P < 0.01). These findings are in accordance with prior histopathological evidence for liver damage in ketosis cows. Plasma protein-bound iodine levels were also lower in the ketosis cows, 2.53 /jg%, as compared to 3.52 /^% for the controls, the difference being statistically significant at the 5% level. The blood hematocrits, plasma and blood volumes per kg. of body weight were 35.6 and 37.0%; 38.1 and 47.8 ml, and 57.2 and 73.1 ml, for the control and ketosis cows, respectively. Although in all instances the values for the ketotic cows were higher, none of the differences was statistically significant.