Haptoglobin baseline value in jennies and the effect of ovariectomy on its serum concentration

The study was conducted to determine the baseline concentration of serum haptoglobin (Hp) in jennies during the breeding and nonbreeding season and to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy on serum Hp concentrations in jennies. Eighteen adult jennies were divided in three groups: nine jennies (OVA) were ovariectomized using laparoscopic surgery, six jennies (LAP) were exploratory examined by laparoscopic surgery, and three jennies were used as a control group. Blood samples were collected from the animals at Day −6, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 5, 8, 15, 22, 29 and 36 of surgery. Serum samples were analyzed by an ELISA specifically developed for determining equine Hp. The mean weekly Hp concentration ranged between 149.76 ± 7.55 and 178.94 ± 6.67 mg/L. The Hp concentrations of clinically healthy jennies revealed no significant variation among time, and there was no effect of reproductive season on Hp concentrations in jennies. Serum Hp concentration was elevated at the first day after operations in the OVA and LAP group. Five days after the operation, the Hp concentration reached the maximum in the LAP and OVA group (278.84 ± 34.22 and 359.88 ± 35.45 mg/L, respectively) and decreased at Day 8 after the operations. On Day 22, 29 and 32 after the operations, the concentration of Hp in LAP and OVA animals was close to its concentration in the control group. In conclusion, Hp is not related to reproductive status of jennies and it can be used as an indicator for cell and tissue damage after surgical operations.