Effect of starvation and refeeding on the blood and liver of domesticated rabbits.

A group of male rabbits was starved for 7 days. Their blood samples were collected, before and after the starvation period. Six rabbits were slaughtered for the recovery of livers, while the rest were refed for the next 7 days, at the end of which their blood samples were collected and livers taken out for various analyses. After 7 days of starvation, the total leukocytic count, haemoglobin, bilirubin, proteins and glucose contents, and activities of alkaline phosphatase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase of blood serum decreased significantly, while its lactate dehydrogenase activity and cholesterol, total lipids and urea contents showed a significant increase. In liver, except for the bilirubin and glucose contents, all the biochemical components--RNA, DNA and total proteins included--showed highly elevated values. Refeeding of the starved rabbits tended to normalize most within 7 days. Although RNA, DNA, total proteins, cholesterol and urea contents did not reach the normal level in liver during this period, they were definitely less than those of the starved condition. The hepatic transaminases activities and lipid content in starved + refed livers were considerably decreased during the refeeding period. The histological parameters were slow to recover.