Effects of vitamin C injection on some blood parameters under hyperacute heat stress in male Baluchi sheep

Authors

1 Department of Animal Health Management, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz-Iran

2 Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand-Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Heat stress can affect the health and performance of sheep. Researchers
have investigated various methods to prevent the harmful effects of heat stress. OBJECTIVES:
In this study, injection of vitamin C on some biochemical parameters, red blood cells (RBC),
hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT) and white blood cells (WBC) in sheep under hyper acute
heat stress were studied. METHODS: Eight healthy male sheep in similar range of age (5±1
months) and weight (28.75±3.17 kg) were enrolled in this study. The sheep were divided into
two groups. Both groups were placed in an environment with hyper-acute heat stress based
on temperature-humidity index (THI).Vitamin C was injected intramuscularly on days 0, 1,
3 and 5.Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein on days 0. 1, 3, 5, and 7. Glucose,
cortisol, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood components were measured and evaluated.
Results were analyzed using statistical software SPSS (version 16). RESULTS: The results
showed that vitamin C injection has a significant effect on serum cortisol, glucose, hematocrit
and white blood cells (p<0.05). Vitamin C injection has lowering effects on serum cortisol
and glucose during heat stress. Mechanism for attenuating the levels of cortisol and glucose
by vitamin C is not well known. However, it may be done by decrease in cortisol synthesis or
degradation. Increased hematocrit provided sufficient water to cool the body through
perspiration. CONCLUSIONS: The present study probably shows a beneficial effect of
injection of vitamin C on adaptation mechanisms against of heat-stressed sheep.
 

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