AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF L-GLUTAMINE ON RECTAL TEMPERATURE, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND OXIDATIVE STRESS CHANGES IN RED SOKOTO GOATS DURING THE HOT-DRY SEASON
AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF L-GLUTAMINE ON RECTAL TEMPERATURE, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND OXIDATIVE STRESS CHANGES IN RED SOKOTO GOATS DURING THE HOT-DRY SEASON
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Date
2015-11
Authors
OCHEJA, OHIEMI BENJAMIN
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Abstract
The experiment was conducted with the aim of determining the ameliorative effects of
L-glutamine administration on rectal temperature, haematological and oxidative stress
changes in Red Sokoto goats during the hot-dry season. Twenty eight apparently
healthy adult Red Sokoto goats of about 1-year-old, comprising 14 bucks (7
experimental and 7 control) and 14 non-pregnant does (7 experimental and 7 control)
served as subject of the study. Goats in the experimental group were administered Lglutamine
at 0.2 g/kg body weight per os once daily, while those in the control group
were given distilled water for 21 days. Rectal temperature and, blood samples for
haematological and biochemical analyses, were obtained 3 days before, during and on
day 7 after L-glutamine administration. The thermal environmental variables of drybulb
temperature, relative humidity, and temperature-humidity index during the study
period had range values of 24.5 - 35.2 °C, 41.7 - 84.0 % and 74.1 - 84.0, respectively.
The mean rectal temperature of 38.78 ± 0.06 °C recorded in experimental group was
lower than the corresponding value of 38.93 ± 0.06 °C recorded in control group, during
the period L-glutamine administration. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin
concentration, erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular
haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, and total leucocyte,
neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were higher (P <
0.05) in experimental group as compared to the control group. Erythrocyte osmotic
fragility in experimental group was lower (P < 0.05) than in the control group only at
0.5 and 0.7 % during the period of L-glutamine administration. The MDA concentration
in the experimental group (1.47 ± 0.1 nmol/L) was lower (P < 0.05) than the
corresponding value of 1.75 ± 0.1 nmol/L recorded in the control group, during Lglutamine
administration. In the experimental group, SOD activity (2.29 ± 0.04 IU/L)
was higher (P < 0.05) than that obtained in the control group (2.10 ± 0.04 IU/L) during
L-glutamine administration. The glutathione peroxidase activities was higher (P < 0.05) in experimental than the control goats during L-glutamine administration. Catalase
activity recorded in the experimental goats (48.96 ± 0.9 IU/L) was significantly (P <
0.05) higher than that obtained in control goats (44.04 ± 0.9 IU/L) during the period of
L-glutamine administration. In conclusion, L-glutamine ameliorated the heat stressinduced
changes in rectal temperature, haematological and oxidative stress parameters
of Red Sokoto goats during the hot-dry season.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD
OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN VETERINARY PHYSIOLGY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
Keywords
AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS,, L-GLUTAMINE,, RECTAL TEMPERATURE,, HAEMATOLOGICAL,, OXIDATIVE STRESS CHANGES,, RED SOKOTO GOATS,, HOT-DRY SEASON,