Lithium Toxicity in Pregnant Swine

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Abstract
Pregnant swine [23] were fed either 2.3 kg of a ration containing 2818 kcal metabolizable energy kg-1 once daily or fed the same ration supplemented with 3000 mg Li2CO3 kg-1 and fed ad libitum during the final 80 days of gestation. Li was not fed during lactation. Li-fed females voluntarily consumed 2.8 kg day-1. Swine that consumed Li lost 27 kg body wt during gestation and weighed less (P < 0.05) than control females at 110 days of gestation. All control females gave birth to piglets, but only 58% of the Li-fed females completed pregnancy. Females consuming Li gave birth to fewer (P < 0.05) live piglets, more (P < 0.01) mummies and stillbirths and lighter (P < 0.01) litters. Fewer (P < 0.01) of the liveborn piglets born to Li-treated females survived to 21 days of age. Li possibly caused these toxic effects by interfering with absorption or metabolism of dietary nutrients. This resulted in mobilization of maternal body stores and caused inadequate fetal or placental development.

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