Influence of dietary supplementation of vitamin A (retinol) on haematology and oxidative stress biomarkers pregnant of West African Dwarf ewes

This study investigated the influence of dietary supplementation of vitamin A (retinol) on haematology and oxidative stress biomarkers of pregnant West African dwarf ewes. A total of eighteen (18) matured ewes of averaged 15  kg were used for the experiment. The ewes were synchronized using Synchromate, a follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), at the end of 4 weeks of acclimatization to bring all eighteen (18) ewes to ovulation at the same period. The eighteen matured ewes were randomly assigned to three (3) treatment gr oups consisting of six (6) ewes per group Each group was randomly allotted to the three (3) experimental diets having treatment 1 (control) with basal diet without vitamin A, treatment 2 supplemented with 140,000 IU vit A/kg and treatment 3 supplemented with 280,000 IU vitamin A/kg of the diet arr anged in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cell count (WBCs) and white blood cell differentials while the serum biochemical (total proteins, albumin, glucose, creatinine, total b ilirubin, uric acid, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase) and oxidative stress biomarkers (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s test was used to separate si gnificantly different means. Significant differences (p <  0.05)...
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research