Effects of Vitamin A and /beta-Carotene Injection on Levels of Vitamin E and on Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in Pregnant Tuj Sheep

Authors : Nadide Nabil KAMİLOĞLU, Ebru BEYTUT

Pages : 1033-1038

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The objective of research was to study the effect of vitamin A and /beta-carotene injections, before breeding and during pregnancy, on the levels of vitamin E in plasma and on the activity of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GSH-Px); in sheep. Thirty-two healthy female and four healthy male Tuj sheep, 4-5 years old and weighing approximately 57 kg each, were used. The female animals were divided into 4 groups with 8 sheep in each. The oestrus cycles of the ewes were synchronised by the application of sponges containing medroxyprogesterone acetate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MPA); and by the intramuscular administration of 500 IU of PMSG. Twenty-four hours after the injection of PMSG, a ram was added to each group and allowed to mate with the sheep. The first group was used as the control. 8 mg/kg of /beta-carotene insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group II);, 200,000 IU of vitamin A insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group III); and a combination of 100,000 IU of vitamin A and 4 mg/kg of /beta-carotene insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group IV); were administered intramuscularly at 30-day intervals, 15 days before breeding and during pregnancy. To measure the levels of vitamin E in plasma and the activity of erythrocyte GSH-Px, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein on days 1 and 15 after injection and after the birth. A statistically significant difference insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.001); was observed during pregnancy in the levels of vitamin E in the plasma of Groups II and IV following injection in comparison with those of the control group. It was also observed that vitamin E levels changed in the treated groups in relation to the time of injection. We further determined that the levels of vitamin E in plasma were little affected by injections of vitamin A. Erythrocyte GSH-Px activity increased in Groups II, III and IV compared with that of the control group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.001);. This increase was higher in the /beta-carotene group than in the other groups. It was concluded that supporting aspects of the antioxidant system such as vitamin E levels and GSH-Px activity with vitamin A and /beta-carotene injections may prevent the undesired effects of the free radicals associated with pregnancy.
Keywords : Vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin E, glutathione peroxidase GSH Px, , pregnancy