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The Effect of Melatonin Administration on Colostrum IgG Levels and Oxidative Stress in Advanced Pregnant Awassi Sheep
Tekin, T.B. and Akkuş T.
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Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects on oxidative stress markers and colostrum quality levels of subcutaneous implantation of melatonin in the 4th month of pregnancy in Awassi sheep by considering the sex of offspring born. The animals consisted of 60 healthy Awassi female sheep. Progesterone-based oestrus synchronization was applied to the sheep during the breeding season and pregnancy examinations were performed by the transabdominal route. The pregnant sheep were divided into 2 groups: the melatonin (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. In the 4th month of pregnancy, melatonin was implanted subcutaneously behing the ear of each animal in the melatonin group, and 1 ml of saline was applied subcutaneously to the control group. Colostrum samples from all the sheep and blood samples from both sheep and lambs were taken within the first hour after birth, before the lambs were suckled. Colostrum IgG levels were seen to be higher in the melatonin group compared to the control group (p<0.001); higher in the group with no female offspring compared to the group with female offspring (p<0.001) and higher in twins compared to singletons (p<0.001). The colostrum IgG levels were higher in ewes with singleton birth in both the melatonin and control groups compared to those with no female offspring at birth (p<0.001). Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in sheep was higher in the melatonin group than in the control group (p<0.001). Serum total oxidant capacity (TOC) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were higher in the control group than in the melatonin group (p<0.001). The serum TAC level in lambs was higher in the melatonin group than in the control group (p<0.001), and was higher in singleton lambs than in twins (p<0.001). The serum TOC and OSI levels were higher in the control group than in the melatonin group (p<0.001) and higher in singleton lambs than in twins (p<0.001). In conclusion, the use of prepartum melatonin may be considered in sheep breeding enterprises to improve the antioxidant defence system of the body and improve the quality of colostrum for newborn lambs to be able to gain sufficient immunity.
Keywords: Melatonin; Colostrum; IgG; Oxidative Stress; Sheep.
Introduction
Melatonin is an indolamine, which is synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. This molecule, which is abundant in almost all living organisms in nature is a chemical compound with a molecular weight of 232 g/mol with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties (1). Oxidative stress can be defined as an imbalance between the amount of free radicals and reactive products or oxidants and the amount of antioxidants that protect the body from these metabolites. This situation affects the organism as a whole and causes significant damage to the molecules and cellular structures in the body (2). Melatonin removes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) from the body and has some important functions halting the formation of free radicals. By decreasing the effect of oxidative stress, it functions as an antioxidant, increasing antioxidant defences, and thereby protecting cells and tissues from damage. It has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties and cleanses hydroxyl radicals (OH) and reduces oxidative stress in both water and lipid parts of the body (3).
Colostrum is a liquid that is synthesized in the last stages of pregnancy. It accumulates in the mammary gland and ceases to be produced immediately after birth. It differs from normal milk in terms of content, taste, color and consistency, as it contains immune complements, growth factors and various nutrients necessary for the defence systems, nutrition and development of newborns after birth (4).
Colostrum is a source of antibodies in passive immunity in newborns as it contains 80 times more antibodies than normal milk (5). There is a significant concentration of immunoglobulin (Ig) (6), and the most important factor affecting the quality of colostrum is the amount of gamaglobulin (IgG) in immunoglobulins. The IgG contained in colostrum accounts for 75% of immunoglobulins. The most commonly used method for calculating the quality of colostrum is the determination of the IgG level (7).
In ruminants, including sheep, the placenta does not allow the transmission of immune substances to the offspring through the maternal bloodstream during pregnancy and therefore lambs are born as agammaglobulinemic. However, the transfer of immune substances in the colostrum provides immunity until the offspring acquire the ability to produce their own antibodies, thus temporary passive immunity is obtained and they are protected from diseases (8).
As the only source for the initiation of postpartum immunity, colostrum is important for the supply of immuno-globulin G, leukocytes, cytokines, growth factors and various nutrients necessary for the immune system in the neonatal period (4).
Lambs and kids need to have sufficient passive immunity to be protected against environmental pathogens in the postpartum period. There is a positive relationship between vitality and passive immunity level in newborns. The neonatal mortality rate has been reported to be high in lambs and kids with passive transfer failure (4, 9).
The use of antioxidants in the prenatal period has been shown to improve the quality of colostrum (10), and it has been reported that antioxidants play a role in the synthesis of IgG and its migration through mammary-specific receptors (11). It has been stated that the dry period serum antioxidant level affects the quality of colostrum (12), while antioxidants in the colostrum content protect immunoglobolina in the colostrum against oxidative stress damage (13).
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of subcutaneous implantation of melatonin in the 4th month of pregnancy in Awassi sheep on oxidative stress markers (blood serum TAC and TOC levels) and colostrum quality (colostrum IgG levels) by considering the sex of offspring. The data obtained were examined in terms of the feasibility of using this method in veterinary breeding practice. [...]
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