Oxidative Stress Markers During Summer and Rainy Season in Deccani Sheep

The present study was designed to study the effect of two different seasons (summer and rainy) on the activities of some oxidative stress markers (SOD, GSHPx and MDA) in Deccani sheep. The experiment was carried out at the Department of Veterinary Physiology, KNP College of Veterinary Science, and Shirwal. Dist. Satara on eight apparently healthy, non-pregnant, non-lactating Deccani sheep above two years of age maintained under semi-intensive housing conditions at Livestock Farm Complex, KNP College of Veterinary Science, Shirwal, Dist. Satara. The meteorological data recorded during the present study were obtained from the Indian Meteorological Department, Pune. The monthly calculated mean values of THI during the study period revealed significantly (P < 0.01) higher THI during Summer (77.81 ± 0.19) than in the Rainy season (74.92 ± 0.16). In the present study, the mean plasma activity of SOD was significantly (P < 0.01) higher during the summer season (510.93 ± 24.77 U/ ml) than in the rainy season (436.58 ± 26.30 U/ ml). The mean erythrocyte activity of glutathione peroxidase showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher values in the summer season than in the rainy season (102.12 ± 5.03 U/gHb and 85.63 ± 3.89 U/gHb). The mean plasma levels of MDA were significantly (P < 0.01) higher during the summer season (5.29± 0.09 nmol/ml ) than in the rainy season (3.27± 0.09 nmol/ml). The finding indicates that oxidative stress markers like SOD, GSHPx and MDA could be used as a sensitive biomarker of oxidative stress caused due to heat stress in Deccani sheep.