Evaluation of serum homocysteine and oxidative stress during lactation in ewes

The aim of the present work was to measure and evaluate the effect of the stage of lactation on serum homocysteine and oxidative stress in ewes. For our study ten Comisana ewes, 3 years old, clinically healthy, with the same level of production and during the same milking period were used and antioxidant barrier (Oxy-adsorbent), reactive oxygen species (dROMs), thiol antioxidant barrier (SHp) and homocysteine (sHcy) were investigated. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni's test, showed statistical differences (P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). The statistically significant variations of dROMs, Oxy-adsorbent, SHp and sHcy during the experimental period concerned suggest an increase of oxidative processes at the end of lactation which are indicative of a response to this stress. The systematic analysis of oxidative stress and its influence on homocysteine levels are a valid instrument for the assessment of the health status of an animal and of good management procedures in a period such as lactation in which the homeostatic processes of organisms are altered.