Changes in the erythrocyte anti-oxidant system of offspring of dams treated with Vitamin A and β-carotene during gestation

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the erythrocyte anti-oxidant defence system and lipid peroxidation as thiobarbituric acid substance (TBARS) of lambs of which the dams were injected with Vitamin A and β-carotene during pregnancy. The lambs of 32 Tuj sheep, aged 4–5 years and weighing approximately 57 ± 5.6 kg each, were used in the study. The ewes were divided into four groups of eight sheep each. The oestrous cycles of all the ewes were synchronised. After synchronisation, a ram was placed with each group. The first group was used as the control and given a placebo. The other groups received 8 mg/kg β-carotene (Group II), 200,000 IU Vitamin A (Group III) and a combination of 100,000 IU Vitamin A and 4 mg/kg β-carotene (Group IV) intramuscularly at 30-day intervals, 15 days before breeding and during gestation. On the 1st and 15th day after parturition, blood samples were taken of lambs in order to measure the plasma levels of Vitamin E and lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX) and the levels of glutathione (GSH) in the erythrocytes. In this study, a significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in the plasma levels of Vitamin E of the lambs in Groups II, III and IV, compared to the lambs of the control group after birth. However, plasma levels of Vitamin E of the lambs were little affected 2 weeks after birth. The erythrocyte GSHPX activity of the lambs increased in Groups II, III and IV, compared to the control group after birth (p < 0.001). The injection of Vitamin A and/or β-carotene had a preventative effect on the elevation of plasma LPO levels in the lambs (p < 0.001) and improved the erythrocyte GSH levels of the lambs in Groups II, III and IV (p < 0.001). Findings indicate that an increased supressor activities against free radical elevation was obtained with Vitamin A and β-carotene injections. This provides a transfer of protective substances from the ewes to the lambs which may have supported the anti-oxidant defence system and also the survival and elevated growth rates of the lambs.