The influence of different doses of α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on selected oxidative stress parameters in in vitro culture of leukocytes isolated from transported calves

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess in vitro the influence of various doses of two different antioxidants, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid, on protective mechanisms against ROS in white blood cells obtained from calves exposed to transport, and to compare these results with those obtained from non-transported animals. The concentrations of lipid peroxidation products in leukocytes and in the retained medium were assessed by determining the level of Thio Barbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS). Total antioxidant status in the leukocytes and the medium were estimated using a ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. Leukocyte viability was determined using the trypan blue reduction test. The study demonstrated that after bovine leukocytes (WBC) were incubated in vitro with α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid, peroxidation intensity decreased and total antioxidant capacity increased. The results of the study reveal that these antioxidants in concentrations over 0.1 mg/ml have a major impact on free radical activity on bovine white blood cells and on cell viability during transport of animals. Based on this study, we suggest that incubation of the leukocytes with antioxidants decreases the oxidative stress development, which can be helpful in protection of the immunological cells during bovine respiratory disease.