Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma glucose concentrations of ovine pregnancy toxaemia cases, inappetant ewes and normal ewes during late gestation.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma glucose concentrations of spontaneous ovine pregnancy toxaemia cases, determined within 24 h of the onset of clinical signs, were significantly lower (P < 0.01) compared to inappetant ewes and healthy ewes at a similar stage of gestation. A highly significant correlation (P < 0.001, r = 0.91) was present between the plasma and CSF glucose concentrations when the data from the three groups were combined. The data suggest that plasma glucose concentration accurately reflects CSF glucose concentration across the range of energy states in pregnant ewes and may provide support for the postulate that the neurological signs of ovine pregnancy toxaemia result from cerebral hypoglycaemia, as reflected by CSF glucose concentration. No cerebral glucose estimations were undertaken in this series.