The levels of glutathione and hemoglobin in sheep erythrocytes as a function of age

The behaviour of the levels of glutathione (GSH) and hemoglobin (Hb) was studied in blood samples from 126 one- to<br />seven-year-old sheep reared in the province of Salerno, Italy. Negative and significant correlation with age both for<br />hemoglobin and glutathione has been reported....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mario Iorio, Mario Annunziata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2010-01-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/205
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Summary:The behaviour of the levels of glutathione (GSH) and hemoglobin (Hb) was studied in blood samples from 126 one- to<br />seven-year-old sheep reared in the province of Salerno, Italy. Negative and significant correlation with age both for<br />hemoglobin and glutathione has been reported. A significant difference, on the basis of age, is evidenced only in males<br />(n=24) for Hb (P = 0.001) and only in females (n=102) for GSH (P = 0.001). These results indicate a greater presence<br />of Hb in young sheep and a greater demand for GSH in adult sheep. Moreover, the lowering of GSH and Hb with respect<br />to age may have caused a reduction of the organism defense to environmental stress factors. Therefore, it would be useful,<br />at least in productive animals, to use feed with a high content of polyphenolic compounds that increase the GSH concentration.<br />The aim of the present work was to study the behaviour of the levels of glutathione and hemoglobin in sheep at different<br />ages.
ISSN:1594-4077
1828-051X