Reference standards and the physiologic significance of the pregnant goat (Capra hircus) as a human model in obstetrical research

1. 1. Amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, serum, and urine chemistries; respiratory rate and arterial and mixed venous blood gases; heart rate, hematocrit, and cardiac output; and arterial, pulmonary artery, central venous and pulmonary wedge pressures were measured in 20 pregnant adult goats of 19.5-34 kg body weight. 2. 2. Arithmetic means, standard deviations, and coefficients of variation were calculated to develop reference values; in addition, the 95% confidence limits for ranges were established. 3. 3. Comparison of derived data with that from non-pregnant goats shows changes similar to those seen when examining pregnant and non-pregnant humans. 4. 4. These results indicate the pregnant goat is an acceptable model for human obstetrical research.