The name is absent

INTAKE PRIOR TO PARTURITION

299

nonpregnant groups on all three diets were combined.
However, the mean body weight of multiparous rats was
significantly higher than that of virgin or primiparous
rats (t = 22.9; df = 24; p< .001). Table 3 summarizes
the daily intake of the pregnant and nonpregnant
females on the basis of calories ingested per gram of
body weight.

An ANOVA applied to the caloric intake level of the
nonpregnant females and the last-day caloric intake of
the pregnant females would seem to indicate that on the
last day of pregnancy, females decrease their caloric
intake to a level not significantly different from that of
nonpregnant females (F = 0.13; df = 1,27; p>.l).
However, analysis of the number of kcal∕day derived on
Day 1 from the solid components of Diet 1 and Diet 2
indicated that caloric intake of the solid component on
Day 1 is not significantly different between Diets 1 and
2 (F < 1.0) and does not change from pregnant base
level (F < 1.0). Therefore, the decrease in total caloric
intake to nonpregnant levels on the last day was due
primarily to the decrease in intake of the fluid
component of Diet 2 (5% sucrose solution). The
decrease on the last day of the kcal∕g body weight values
(see Table 3) can be accounted for by the rapidly
increasing body weight during the last 5 days of
pregnancy.

When it was found that caloric intake was reduced on
Day 1 prepartum because of a reduction in intake of 5%
sucrose solution, the raw fluid-intake values of Diet 1
and Diet 2 were compared directly. Because of the
greater Palatability of the sucrose solution, the base level
intake of sucrose (Diet 2) for all females was
significantly greater than the base level intake of tap
water (Diet 1) for all females (F = 95,77; df = 1,17;
p < .001). Pregnant base level fluid intake on both diets
was significantly greater than the nonpregnant fluid
intake level (F = 16.26; df = 1,17; p<.001).
Experienced females ingested greater amounts of fluid,
regardless of pregnancy or diet, than did inexperienced
females (F = 40.79; df = 1,17; p< .001). Furthermore,
there was a significant interaction between pregnancy
and experience (F = 9.47; df = 1,17; p< .01) in that
pregnant, experienced females ingested greater amounts
of fluid than did either nonpregnant, experienced
females or pregnant, inexperienced females. There was
also a significant interaction between diet and
experience (F = 12.59; df = 1,17; p < ,01); the greatest
amount of fluid ingested was by experienced females on
Diet 2.

Absolute intake of both tap water and sucrose
solution decreased significantly in pregnant females on
the last day prior to parturition (see Table 1), as
compared to the respective pregnant base levels (tap
water: F = 99.65; df = 1,4; p < .001; sucrose solution: F
= 16,31; df = 1,4; ρ< .05). To eliminate the possibility
that the marked decrease in fluid intake observed in the
last day of pregnancy was merely the result of a steady
decrease in intake over the preceding 4 days, analyses of
trend were performed on Days 2-5 for each group. No
significant linear, quadratic, or cubic component was
found in any group.

Since the fluid intake of pregnant females was greater
than that of nonpregnant females, further analyses were
performed comparing the intake on the last day of
pregnancy with the nonpregnant levels. Although
last-day sucrose solution intake was significantly lower
than the nonpregnant level for sucrose solution (l =
2.789; df = 10; p<.02), it was not significantly
different from last-day tap-water intake (t = 0.24; df = 8;
p> .1) or from nonpregnant, tap-water intake level (t =
0.742; df = 11; p > .1). Furthermore, last-day tap water
intake of the pregnant females was not significantly
different from nonpregnant tap-water intake level (t =
1.383; df = 11; p > .1). The fluid intake of the pregnant
females on both diets over the last 5 days of pregnancy
is presented in Fig. 1.

The pregnant base level of eggnog intake (see Table 1)
was not significantly greater than the nonpregnant level
(t = 0.604; df = 12; p>.l). The last day’s intake
decreased to a level below, but not significantly different
from, either pregnant base level or nonpregnant level.
Tlic decrease from pregnant base level may be

<<   <   1   2   3   4