Oxidative stress molecules as indicators of uterine health in Murrah buffaloes during peripartum period

Abstract

The present study was carried out to know the changes in concentration of oxidative stress molecules in peripheral blood during peripartum period in relation to uterine health in Murrah buffaloes(n=24). Blood samples were collected from day -7 to day +35 of calving and serum was used for analysis. Based on assessment of uterine fluid scoring, trans-rectal USG, clinical signs uterine health of buffaloes were determined and they were classified into healthy and uterine infected groups. Results indicated that nitric oxide (NO) concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in serum during peripartum period i.e. on day -7 to +35, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum was elevated throughout peripartum period in uterine infected Murrah buffaloes. Total antioxidant capacity(TAC) was significantly higher (P<0.05) on day -7, 0, +7, +14, +21, +35  postpartum in healthy buffaloes as compared to uterine infected buffaloes. From this study it can be concluded that in Murrah buffaloes NO and TAC in serum may be used as promising indicators for predicting uterine health before onset of clinical infections.