Influencia del ciclo lunar sobre los parámetros hematológicos y bioquímicos en cobayas (Cavia porcellus)

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the lunar cycle on hematological and biochemical parameters in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Eighty blood samples from pubescent, nulliparous guinea pigs obtained from a farm located in the town of Bulán, Paute, Azuay Province, Ecuador were analyzed. Blood samples were collected from five guinea pigs during each phase of the new moon (NM), last quarter (LQ), full moon (FM), and first quarter (FQ), and the sampling was repeated over four consecutive lunar cycles in different animals of the same category. Prior to cardiac puncture sampling, the guinea pigs were anesthetized via inhalation with sevoflurane. The effect of the lunar phase on the following hematological variables was analyzed: total erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet counts, differential leukocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and erythrocyte indices; mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), as well as the following enzymatic chemistry analytes: total proteins (TP), albumin (A), globulins (G), A/G ratio, cholesterol, glucose, and urea. Analysis of variance with the general linear model was performed. Means were compared using the least squares method. The results obtained indicate that the lunar cycle influenced the percentage of neutrophils and eosinophils, but not the other hematological parameters. On the other hand, the lunar cycle was observed to influence the concentration of glucose, urea, globulins, total proteins, and the albumin-globulin ratio, but not the concentrations of albumin and cholesterol. It is concluded that the phase of the lunar cycle has a limited influence on hemogram values, but influenced the majority of the serum analytes studied