[Changes in biochemical, enzymatic, and electrolyte indices of sheep in experimental hypocalcemia]

Hypocalcaemia as one of the most important ovine metabolic diseases occurs during late gestation and early lactation. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological effects of experimentally induced hypocalcemia on serum biochemical, enzymatic and electrolyte changes. Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid [EDTA] solution [4.6%] was intravenously infused to 5 healthy sheep [experimental group]. Meanwhile, 5 healthy sheep received 0.9% saline solution [IV] and kept at similar condition as control group. In both groups serum was collected before and after EDTA infusion at different time points. Aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine transminase [ALT], glucose, blood urea nitrogen [BUN], total protein, calcium [Ca] and inorganic phosphorus [Pi] levels were measured. Clinical signs of hypocalcemia and/or changes in heart rate was caused by EDTA infusion. Serum calcium levels showed significant decrease [39.2% at its maximum state] following EDTA infusion [p<0.05], compared to the pre-infusion state. Pi levels showed significant decrease [57.8% at its maximum state] during 1 to 4 hours following EDTA infusion. Meanwhile, it was accompaning with an increase [9.9% at its maximum state] at 5.5 to 22 hours after EDTA infusion. Increase in serum glucose levels during 1 to 3 hours following EDTA infusion was determined as much as 60% [38.44 mg/dl] at its maximum state. An increase [51.1% at its maximum state] was shown in blood urea nitrogen levels after EDTA infusion in experimental group. Changes in total protein, ALT and AST were not significant before and after EDTA infusion. While, experimental hypocalcemia can be accompanied with a decrease in serum Ca level, time dependent alterations in Pi and an increase in glucose and BUN levels can be observed. However, AST, ALT and total protein values can be without any changes

effect of mercury on thyroid function in sheep

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of long-term low-dose administration of mercury [Hg] on thyroid function in sheep. In this experiment, 10 clinically healthy, adult, male Iranian sheep, aged approximately 1 year, were randomly allocated into the control [n=5] and mercury [Hg-]-treated [n=5] groups. Both groups were kept under identical conditions in terms of food and environment. The treatment group received mercuric chloride [5 mg/kg/day] orally for eight weeks. Blood samples were drawn between the hours of 0800 and 0900 from both groups on days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70. Thyroid function was evaluated by measuring the levels of the serum thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine [T3], thyroxine [T4], free T3 [FT3], free T4 [FT4] and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]. Hepatic function was evaluated in both groups by measuring alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT] and total bilirubin [TBIL]. Renal function was assessed using serum creatinine [Cr] and blood urea nitrogen [BUN] levels. Serum T3 [from day 28 onwards] and serum T4, FT3, FT4 and TSH [from day 14 onwards] decreased in the Hg-treated group [p<0.05]. Serum ALT, AST and GGT increased from days 42, 56 and 70, respectively, when compared to the control group [p<0.05]. The concentrations of total protein and albumin decreased on day 70 and total bilirubin [TBIL], BUN and Cr levels increased on day 70 when compared to the control group [p<0.05]. It was concluded that chronic administration of Hg may expose sheep to the risk of hypothyroidism

[ study of CSF and serum proteins in sheep by electrophoresis]

Experiments were carried out on 19 males [rams] and 25 females sheep in different ages. CSF samples were taken from the cisterna magna region and concentraled by lyophlyzation method and then tested by electrophoresis. Blood samples were also obtained from the jagular vein and the serum were collected. The results indicated that the concentration of proteins in the CSF was lower than serum proteins, the maximum value and percent of total proteins in the CSF was due to albumin, so the other fractions were in a lower level. No special correlations were observed between total proteins of serum and the CSF and other fractions of proteins, and significant difference was not observed between male and female sheep at different ages