Modulatory effects of melatonin on erythrocyte indices in Arabian stallions following a 30-km sub-maximal exercise

AbstractExperiments were performed to determine the effects of melatonin on erythrocytes indices in Arabian stallions following a sub-maximal exercise of 30  km. Twelve, apparently, healthy stallions of average age 6.3 ± 4.4 years and mean weight 403.44 ± 12.46 kg were used. They were divided into two groups of six stallions each. The stallions in MT which was the experimental group were administered with melatonin before exercise while sta llions in the second group (NT) which served as the control were not administered with melatonin. Erythrocyte count in the MT group was higher (p = 0.023) than the count obtained in the NT group. Packed cell volume of NT group was lower (p = 0.038) than the value obtained in the MT group post-exercise. Haemoglobin concentration of the MT group was higher (p = 0.041) than the value obtained in the NT group after exercise. The values of mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration of the MT group were higher than the corresponding values recorded in the NT group (p = 0.033, 0.029 and 0.025 respectively). It was concluded that melatonin enhanced erythrocytes indices in the stallions studied.
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research