Age–Related Changes in Serum Biochemical Parameters in the Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

The influence of age on serum biochemical components in the domestic rabbit was investigated. The serum total protein (g/dL), albumin (g/dL), globulin (g/dL), creatinine (mg/dL), urea mg/dL, cholesterol (mg/dL), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP; iu/l), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST; iu/l) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT; iu/l) were assessed in 24 male rabbits at 7, 14 and 21 weeks of age to represent weaners, growers and pubertal stages. Data were analysed using analysis of variance at α0.05 and descriptive statistics. Results of serum biochemistry revealed a steady significant increase in total protein (4.2±0.3; 5.3±0.5; 6.9±0.2), albumin (2.2±0.7; 2.8±0.4; 4.0±0.2), globulin (1.9±0.3; 2.5±0.4, 2.9±0.2), cholesterol (49.5±1.1; 56.4±4.2; 62.4±5.4) and creatinine (0.8±0.1; 1.2±0.1; 1.9±0.3) at 7, 14 and 21 weeks respectively. Serum urea levels were similar across the ages. The values recorded for ALP and AST at 7 weeks (39.6±7.5; 101.1±6.7) and 14 weeks (38.7±6.4; 104.5±8.7) were significantly higher than the 21 weeks (33.5±2.7; 95.8; 5.9) while ALT at 7 weeks (27.33±5.6) was significantly lower than 14 (38.2±3.9) and 21 weeks (37.4±3.0).The range of values recorded at 7 weeks for total protein, albumin and globulin were lower than the ranges reported in literature while the range recorded for the other parameters were within that reported in the literature. The age of the rabbits had a significant effect on their serum biochemical parameters.