Hypophosphatemia Induced by Dietary Aluminium Hydroxide Supplementation in Growing Pigs: Effects on Erythrocytes,Myocardium, Skeletal Muscle and Liver

Håglin, L., B. Essén-Gustavsson and A. Lindholm: Hypophosphatemia induced by dietary aluminium hydroxide supplementation in growing pigs: Effects on erythrocytes, myocardium, skeletal muscle and liver. Acta vet. scand. 1994, 35, 263-271.– Three groups of pigs were studied during and after 10 weeks of treatment with either Al(OH)₃ (AlOH]₃-group, n=8) to induce hypophosphatemia, A1P0₄ (AlP0₄-group, n=8, aluminium control without hypophosphatemia) or no addition to the feed (control group, n=8). Blood samples were taken at the start of the experiment and after 3, 6 and 10 weeks and were analyzed for phosphate, calcium and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). Samples from myocardium, skeletal muscle and liver were obtained in connection with exsanguination and analyzed for glycogen, adenosine-tri-phosphate (ATP), creatine phosphate (CP), glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) and lactate. The Al(OH)₃-group became hypophosphatemic and hypercalcémie with low levels of 2,3-DPG in erythrocytes within 3 weeks and showed a retarded growth rate. After 10 weeks the Al(OH)₃-group had low levels of ATP in myocardium as compared with the control-group and low levels of G-6-P as compared with the AlP0₄-group. No disturbances on electro-cardiograms registered at rest could be documented. G-6-P concentration was low in the biceps muscle in the Al(OH)₃-group as compared with the AlP0₄-group and in the liver low G-6-P concentration was seen in addition to high lactate concentration. The fibre type composition in M. Longissimus did not differ between groups, but the Al(OH)₃-group had, due to retardation in growth, smaller mean fibre-areas than pigs in the AlP0₄-group. Hypophosphatemia gave rise to high serum calcium levels, low concentration of 2,3-DPG in erythrocytes and influenced G-6-P concentration in skeletal muscle, G-6-P and ATP in myocardium, G-6-P and lactate in liver. Retarded growth was one serious consequence of hypophosphatemia and the disturbed energy metabolism.