IGF-I, NEFA AND CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS IN FETAL FLUIDS OF DOGS AND CATS: PRELIMINARY DATA.

Knowledge about fetal fluids composition could be useful for fetal well being assessment also in small animals, but few studies focused on this topic. In the present study IGF-I, NEFA and Cortisol (C) levels were evaluated in amniotic and allantoic fluids collected from dogs and cats at mid pregnancy (MP) and from dogs at term pregnancy (TP). A total of 11 canine amniotic and 8 allantoic MP samples, 24 canine amniotic and 26 allantoic TP samples, and 18 feline amniotic and 4 allantoic MP samples were collected and analyzed for IGF-I and C by RIA and for NEFA by enzymatic-colorimetric methods. The results showed significant differences between the two fluids within the canine specie only in C levels at TP, with higher levels in the amniotic fluid. When the different stages of pregnancy were considered in the dog, IGFI levels declined, while C levels increased significantly at TP in the amniotic fluid. The comparison between the two species evidenced that, at MP, IGF-I levels were lower in the cat in both amniotic and allantoic fluids. NEFA seems to show no significant differences between the two fluids, between the two stages of pregnancy and also between dogs and cats.