FURTHER STUDIES ON THE PLASMA BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE AFRICAN GIANT RAT ( Cricetomys gambianus , Waterhouse)

Blood samples collected from the orbital sinus of sixteen mature immature male and female African giant rats were analyzed for the levels of some enzyme and metabolite of nine of their plasma. The alkaline phosphate (ALP) level in the immature group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of male the group. In the immature (ALT) asparate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were also significantly (P < 0.001 higher than in the adult group. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level was significantly ( P < 0.01) lower in the immature group, while the triglyceride level was significantly (0.01) lower in adult group. Within the immature group, no significant (P > 0.05) sex differences were evident in the mean values of ALP, AST, ALT, CK, BUN, U.A, CHOLES, TRIG and TBL. The mean value of ALP in adult male was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in adult female while TRG was significantly (P < 0.05) higher. TRIG level in adult male than in adult female. Furthermore, the mean values of AST and ALP in immature females were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than in adult males. Similarly, there was higher significant (P < 0.05) age and sex difference in the mean value of ALP in immature females compared to the ALP value in adult males. Likewise, the mean values of ALT and TRIG, were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in immature males than in adult females. ASP level was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in immature male while the BUN level was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in adult females. There were age difference in the plasma mean values of AST and ALT in immature females which was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than in adult females. Also, the TRIG mean value was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in adult females than immature females. Significant (P < 0.05) age differences were evident, with higher plasma levels of ALP, ASP and ALT in immature males and lower BUN level in adult males.