[Age-related changes and sex differences on the serum chemistry values in Sprague-Dawley rats--I. 6-30 weeks of age].

Age-related changes of 27 items in serum chemistry were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes from 6 to 30 weeks of age. The following 12 items were shown as an increase in those values during growth and maturity, i.e., total protein, albumin (female only), glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid (female only), beta-lipoprotein, cholinesterase (female only), asparate aminotransferase (female only), creatinine, direct-bilirubin and total-bilirubin. However, the following 4 items decreased with aging, i.e., asparate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase and inorganic phosphorus. No age-related changes were found in the values for calcium, sodium and chloride in both sexes and for alanine aminotransferase, cholinesterase and albumin in males. The sex differences were shown in the following 12 items: higher values in males were alkaline phosphatase, creatinephosphokinase, glucose and inorganic phosphorus, and higher values in females were cholinesterase, albumin, phospholipid, non-esterified fatty acid, urea nitrogen, direct-bilirubin, total-bilirubin and serum iron. No sex-related differences were found in the values for calcium, sodium, chloride and total cholesterol.