Abstract
The provision of basic data about oxidative stresses on Aardi goats will be
beneficial for understanding the basic physiological indices of a valuable local
breed of goats under harsh desert condition. The primary aim of this study is
to assess the antioxidant status of newly born Aardi kids. Eighteen newly born
Aardi kids were used in this study; sampled weekly as from week 1 to 4 for the
assay of the plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), ThioBarbituric Reactive
Substances (TBARS), and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activities. For
new-born, total blood antioxidants concentrations did not change during the
four weeks of life. However, TBARS increased during the 2nd and 3rd week of
age (p < 0.05). The results indicated that TAC in kids from birth to 4 weeks of
age tended to increase, but not significantly. Serum TBARS concentrations
increased on the 2nd week and decreased significantly on the 4th week of age.
Serum SOD levels did not change significantly, even though, the trend showed
a decline during 1st to 3rd week of age. The small decrease in serum TBARS in
the serum of kids can be considered as an indication of decreased oxidants,
which in turn, resulted in a reduction in serum SOD concentration. In conclusion,
this basic data could help in understanding the adaptational physiology
of young local Saudi goats.
1. Introduction
Antioxidants are chemicals that inhibit the oxidations of other chemicals. They are involved in preventing damages to cells in the body. It is well-documented that the balance between oxidants and antioxidants may be impaired in neonatal animals. Aardi is an important local Saudi goats, with proven adaptation to arid environment [1] . Publications concerning the normal and abnormal levels of total as well as individual antioxidant profiles in Saudi breeds of ruminants are lacking. However, limited information is available on physiological changes in oxidative biomarkers in newborn and young Local breeds of goats in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aims at assessing the antioxidant status at different intervals in local Saudi goat kids during the first month of life.
2. Materials and Methods
Eighteen newly born Aardi kids (12 female and 6 male) were used in this study, and they were sampled weekly as from week 1 to 4th week of life for a period of 2 months (during February and March). Those newly born kids are from goats that were bred in our department experimental station. Blood samples were collected for the assay of Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), ThioBarbituric Reactive Substances (TBARS), and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activities (Cayman kits, USA). The changes in theses biomarkers were analyzed by means of ANOVA repeated measures. Data were expressed as the mean ± SE for all parameters. Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) was used at a level of p < 0.05. All data were analyzed using SAS program (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC).
3. Results and Discussion
The primary aim of this study was to assess the antioxidative profile of newly born Aardi kids. Oxidative stress biomarkers can provide highly relevant insights into the physiological state of an organism [2] . The antioxidative defense is related to time and the oxidation process of protein [3] , and transportation as seen in buffalo calves [4] , and the feeding on artificial milk replacer [5] .
Measuring each antioxidant separately is difficult; though, several methods have been devised to measure TAC [6] . The current results indicated that TAC in kids from birth to 4 weeks of age tended to increase, but not significantly (Figure 1). It is postulated that TAC serum concentration in kids is associated with the maternal health and nutrition [7] . Serum TBARS concentrations increased on the 2nd week and decreased significantly on the 4th week of age (Figure 2). These insignificant changes might reflect that kids’ ROS are not high enough to be recognized, and Malondialdehye (MDA) levels 3.06 0.69 mmol/L), and TAS 829.26 23.16 mmol/L in neonates [8] .
As stated earlier, SOD converts SOD converts oxygen free radicals (
) into H2O2 and Oxygen, and its activity is related to the presence of reactive oxygen metabolites. Serum SOD concentrations did not change significantly, even though, the trend showed a decrease during 1st to 3rd week of age (Figure 3). The small decrease of the serum TBARS in serum of kids can be considered as an indication of decreased oxidant, which in turn, resulted in a decrease in serum SOD concentration.
Our data are in line to previous studies performed in women and cattle [9] . Parallel trends for SOD and TAC found in this study indicate a fully functioning antioxidant defense system in the calf, which is well adjusted to and able to compensate the inevitable oxidative stress of birth [10] . Values of oxidative stress markers in newborns immediately after birth were elevated and increased further during the first few days of neonatal life [11] .
Figure 1. Serum Total Antioxidant Capacity in goats’ kids at 1 to 4 weeks of age. Values are expressed as means ± SE.
Figure 2. Serum TBARS in goats’ kids at 1 to 4 weeks of age. Values are expressed as means ± SE. Values with different scripts are statistically (p < 0.05) different.
Figure 3. Serum SOD in goats’ kids at 1 to 4 weeks of age. Values are expressed as means ± SE.
To the best of our knowledge, this study provides, for the first time, basic data about oxidative stresses on Aardi goats kids. Our results gave us very close details on the animals during such important period, where we can go further to reduce such stresses to improve Aardi goats’ productivity. While this study shed the light on the basic oxidative stresses on Aardi goats’ kids, the small number of animals used limited it. For that reason, we could not include the effect of gender on the parameters studied.