Determination of oxidant/antioxidant balance, blood gases and some biochemical parameters in lambs born to them, in the late pregnancy, early and late lactation periods of the sheep c vitamins at different doses application

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of vitamine C administration with different doses on malondialdehid (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels, blood gases as well as certain haematological and biochemical parameters in ewes of different pregnancy and lactation periods and in their lambs. Material and Method: A total of 48 ewes were divided into four groups as. Group 1 (n:8) non pregnant (-) control, Group 2 (n:13) pregnant (+) control were injected with phisiologic saline solution while Group 3 (n:13) and Group 4 (n:14) were injected with 2.5 ml and 5 ml vitamine C beginning from 4th month of pregnancy until delivery. Blood samples were collected on day 0 (15 days before mating), in the 4th and 5th months of pregnancy and 1st and 3rd months of lactation from ewes, at the 1st and 4th weeks from lambs. The samples were used for determing MDA, TAS-TOS, OSI levels, blood gases as well as certain haematological and biochemical parameters. The data obtained were evaluated by using a two way analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: Vitamine C administration had no significant effect on MDA, TAS-TOS and OSI while it significantly changed serum levels of pO2, cHCO3, BE (ecf), TCO2, K+, glucose and lactose. Serum levels of these parameters were not affected by vitamine C administration in lambs born from these ewes. Conclusion: The results showed that vitamine C administration beginning from 4th month of gestation did not affect serum oxidant or antioxidant parameters. Although vitamine C is synthesized in the rumen of ruminants, further studies can be performed in order to investigate the effect of vitamine C administration of higher doses, because no adverse effect was observed.