Goat Erythrocytes Research Articles

Oleic acid complex of bovine α-lactalbumin induces eryptosis in human and other erythrocytes by a Ca2 +-independent mechanism

BackgroundComplexes of oleic acid (OA) with milk α-lactalbumin, received remarkable attention in view of their selective toxicity towards a spectrum of tumors during the last two decades. OA complexes of some structurally related/unrelated proteins are also tumoricidal. Erythrocytes are among the few differentiated cells that are sensitive and undergo hemolysis when exposed to the complexes. MethodsThe effects of OA complex of bovine α-lactalbumin (Bovine Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells, BAMLET) on human, goat and chicken erythrocytes on calcein leakage, phosphatidylserine exposure, morphological changes and hemolysis were studied by confocal microscopy, FACS analysis, scanning electron microscopy and measuring hemoglobin release. ResultsErythrocytes exposed to BAMLET undergo eryptosis-like alterations as revealed by calcein leakage, surface phosphatidylserine exposure and transformation to echinocytes at low concentrations and hemolysis when the concentration of the complex was raised. Ca2+ was not essential and restricted the alterations when included in the medium. The BAMLET-induced alterations in human erythrocytes were prevented by the cation channel inhibitors, amiloride and BaCl2 but not by inhibitors of thiol proteases, sphingomyelinase and by the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. ConclusionsThe work shows for the first time that low concentrations of BAMLET induces eryptosis in erythrocytes by a novel mechanism not requiring Ca2+ and hemolysis by detergent-like action by the released OA at higher concentrations. General significanceThe study points out to the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the toxicity of OA complexes of α-lactalbumin and other proteins towards erythrocytes and other differentiated cells before being considered for therapy.

Studies on Haemolytic Properties of Puffer Fishes from South East Coast of India

Marine fishes play an important role for health care. The objectives of the present study was to evaluate the haemolytic activity of crude extracts of six puffer fishes Cyclichthys orbicularis, Diodon holocanthus, Canthigaster solandri, Arthron hispidus, A. inermis and Lagocephalua inermis collected from Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, South East Coast of India. The haemolytic activity was tested against red blood cells (RBCs) of chicken, goat and human blood. The haemolytic activity was high in chicken blood (128HU) against of Cyclichthys orbicularis and A. inermis and minimum (16HU) in Lagocephalua inermis. In goat erythrocytes the highest haemolytic activity (256HU) against Arthron hispidus and minimum (16HU) against A. inermis and Lagocephalua inermis were observed. In human erythrocytes the maximum haemolytic activity of 32HU against Cyclichthys orbicularis, Arthron hispidus were recorded. In blood agar plate assay the highest zone of inhibition of 6.4±0.9 and 6.3±0.1 mm were observed in A. inermis against chicken erythrocytes and Arthron hispidus against goat erythrocytes respectively. The results strongly suggest that, the Marine puffer fish extracts showed good cytolytic properties against blood RBCs.

Studies on Haemolytic Properties of Puffer Fishes from South East Coast of India

Marine fishes play an important role for health care. The objectives of the present study was to evaluate the haemolytic activity of crude extracts of six puffer fishes Cyclichthys orbicularis, Diodon holocanthus, Canthigaster solandri, Arthron hispidus, A. inermis and Lagocephalua inermis collected from Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, South East Coast of India. The haemolytic activity was tested against red blood cells (RBCs) of chicken, goat and human blood. The haemolytic activity was high in chicken blood (128HU) against of Cyclichthys orbicularis and A. inermis and minimum (16HU) in Lagocephalua inermis. In goat erythrocytes the highest haemolytic activity (256HU) against Arthron hispidus and minimum (16HU) against A. inermis and Lagocephalua inermis were observed. In human erythrocytes the maximum haemolytic activity of 32HU against Cyclichthys orbicularis, Arthron hispidus were recorded. In blood agar plate assay the highest zone of inhibition of 6.4±0.9 and 6.3±0.1 mm were observed in A. inermis against chicken erythrocytes and Arthron hispidus against goat erythrocytes respectively. The results strongly suggest that, the Marine puffer fish extracts showed good cytolytic properties against blood RBCs.

Physiological characteristics of crab Portunus sanguinolentus egg mass extract from southeast coast of India.

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the physiological characteristics of crab egg mass (Portunus sanguinolentus) crude extract. Assays were followed by standard methods. A maximum of 256 hemolytic units (HU) and a minimum of 128 HU were found in chicken and goat erythrocytes. In an antimicrobial assay, Salmonella paratyphi and Aspergillus niger showed most susceptibility (8.0 mm and 13.0 mm) against n-butanol extracts. In the tail flick method, 5.33±0.19* AR the maximum analgesic response was recorded 30 min after the administration of crude extract (150 mg kg-1). In the hot plate method, 5.13±0.13* AR maximum paw licking was recorded 15 min after the administration of crude extract (150 mg kg-1). In an anti-inflammatory assay, 0.31±0.23* anti-inflammatory response and inhibition of paw edema 39.22% were observed 1 h after the administration of crude extract (250 mg kg-1). Primary structural groups gained through Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) analysis peaks were observed and assigned as amide groups I (1517.81-1633.12 cm-1), II (1446.58-1517.81 cm-1) and III (1342.47-1406.85 cm-1). The results indicate that crab egg masses have remarkable antimicrobial, hemolytic and cytotoxic activities.

Influence of extracellular media's ionic strength on the osmotic stability of Sahel goat erythrocytes.

Heparinised blood was exposed to osmotic lysis in hypotonic buffered saline to evaluate erythrocyte membrane stability. When K3 EDTA blood was used, it added more to the ionic content of blood than heparin. The influence of suspending media's ionic strength on the osmotic stability of Sahel goat erythrocytes was investigated by replacing the ionic saline with non-ionic saccharide (sucrose or glucose) and assessing the effect of using EDTA blood instead of heparinised blood. The erythrocyte osmotic fragility curve in saline was hyperbolic even when the ionic concentration was reduced by 50% with saccharides. Haemolysis was higher with EDTA than heparinised blood at saline concentrations of 90 and 150-180 mosmol/L. The fragility curve was sigmoidal and shifted to the left when saline was completely substituted with a saccharide. The non-ionic saccharides increased erythrocyte osmotic resistance linearly (r=0.88; p<0.02) from median to minimal hyposmolarities (150-300 mosmol/L) and reduced the osmolyte concentration at median fragility by 36%. No effect occurred at <30-120 mosmol/L and >90% fragility; and saccharide concentrations were almost non-lytic at comparable saline concentrations evoking <10% haemolysis. Fragilities were neither affected by period (30-60 min) of incubation nor the type of saccharide used. In this study, the variation in osmotic stability of caprine erythrocytes was linked to ionic strength of the suspending extracellular media which seemed to exert an influence through transmembrane ion fluxes and regulatory volume changes in erythrocytes.

Purification and characterization of a thermostable mycelial lectin from basidiomycete Lentinus squarrosulus

Lectins are non-immune carbohydrate-binding proteins or glycoproteins with specific binding sites for certain glycoconjugates. Fungal lectins have been documented for their antitumour, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory, hypotensive and insecticidal effects. In the present study, a mycelial lectin having molecular mass 55 kDa has been purified and characterized from Lentinus squarrosulus. Biological action spectrum of the lectin revealed agglutination of all human blood types (A, B, O, AB), goat, sheep, rabbit and pig erythrocytes. Neuraminidase treatment of blood type O erythrocytes considerably augmented hemagglutination titre. Carbohydrate inhibition studies showed its high affinity to mucin and asialofetuin. Lectin was purified by a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Optimum pH for lectin activity was observed to be 6.5–8.0 and optimum temperature was 25–30°C. Lectin showed poor pH stability and was stable within pH 7.0–7.5. It was highly thermostable and could withstand temperature upto 70°C. Lectin activity was sensitive to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and denaturants.

Antibody response to goat erythrocytes in endangered Nicobari fowl, Vanaraja and their various F1 and F2 crosses under the hot humid climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

The aim of the present investigation was to study the antibody response to goat erythrocytes in Nicobari fowl, Vanaraja and their various F1 and F2 crosses under the hot and humid climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The humoral immune response was measured against (1% v/v) goat red blood cells (GRBC) for total haemagglutinin (HA) antibody titre on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-immunization (PI). Among the pure breeds, HA titres of Black Nicobari were found significantly (P<0.05) to be significantly higher than that of White Nicobari and Vanaraja but did not vary significantly with Brown Nicobari during the entire period of the study. Among the F1 crosses, on days 7 and 21 PI, HA titres of Brown Nicobari×Vanaraja were significantly higher in comparison to Vanaraja×White Nicobari, White Nicobari×Vanaraja and Vanaraja×Black Nicobari but did not vary significantly (P<0.05) with Black Nicobari×Vanaraja and Vanaraja×Brown Nicobari. At day 7, PI antibody titres of Vanaraja×(Vanaraja×White Nicobari) and Vanaraja×Black Nicobari were significantly lower (P<0.05) in comparison to that of all other F2 crosses but did not vary significantly (P<0.05) between themselves. Positive heterosis was found in some F1 crosses.

Effect of long-term onion (Allium cepa) feeding on antioxidant enzymes in goat erythrocyte

The effect of long-term onion consumption on red blood cell antioxidant enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), were measured. The relationship of these enzymes with PCV and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations was also determined. Twelve adult female goats were used for the experiment and randomly assigned to three groups. Animals of group 1 and 2 received diets containing 30% and 60% spring onions (DM basis) for 60 days, respectively. Goats of group 3 served as control and were fed whole alfalfa hay. Blood samples were obtained before feeding onion and every 10 days up to 80 days. In the onion groups, PCV amounts decreased from day 10 and reached the lowest value at day 40. Although onion consumption reduced PCV, the measures were within the normal range for goats. G6PD activity decreased from day 10 and the lowest value was detected at day 40. After day 40, a slow and gradual return toward the baseline values was seen. In the onion groups, SOD showed a negative correlation with PCV and Hb (P<0.01). On the other hand, there was a positive correlation between G6PD and Hb (P<0.01). It seems that up to 60% of onions in diet can be consumed by goats without noticeable clinical anaemia. Moreover, it seems that SOD has a compensatory role in protection of erythrocytes against oxidative stress induced by onion consumption in goats.

ОЧИЩЕННЯ І ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА НОВОГО МАНОЗОСПЕЦИФІЧНОГО ЛЕКТИНУ ІЗ ЦИБУЛИН ГІАЦИНТИКА ГОСТРОЛОПАТЕВОГО (Hyacinthella аcutiloba K. Perss.)

A new lectin with 6.5 mg/kg yield was purified from fresh bulb Hyacinthella аcutiloba K. Perss. by combination of affinity chromathography on yeast mannan and by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-toyopearl. The best lectin inhibitor among tested monoand disaccharides was D-turanose (Glcp α1-3 Fruf). Very powerful inhibitor of lectin activity was yeast mannan. The lectin revealed weak affinity to α-methyl-Dmannoside, D-fructose and 2-acetamido-D-galactopyranoside. The lectin interacted also with pig liver glycogen, starch and mannose-containing glycoproteins (ovoalbumin, ovomucoid and calf thyroglobulin), but don’t interacted with horsera dish peroxidase and calf intestine alkaline phosphatase. According to electrophoresis, in 20% SDS-PAAG containing SDS-Na the lectin consists with subunits of molecular weight 12 kDa. Molecular weight of the lectin is 48 kDa according to gel-chromatography on Toyopearl HW-55. The lectin agglutinated best of all rabbit erythrocytes and worse agglutinated guinea-pig, very weak — rat erythrocytes and did not agglutinate human and goat erythrocytes. After dialysis against 1% EDTA sodium salt solution the lectin did not lose hemaglutinating activity and endured heating to +65 °C during one hour.

Biological Activity of Purified Momardica Charantia Lectin

Momardica Charantia L. Var. Jhalri (MCJ) is the member of lectins from family Cucurbitaceae. Haemagglutination of purified MCJ lectin was carried out by titration assay with human and animals viz. rabbit, sheep, goat, pig, buffalo and dog erythrocytes. The lectin showed positive haemagglutination test for trypsin treated and non-treated erythrocytes of human blood group 'O' and rabbit both. Trypsin treated erythrocytes of human blood group 'O' showed the enhanced agglutination while that of rabbit, reduced agglutination. The haemagglutination units(HUs) for untreated and trypsin treated erythrocytes in case of human blood group 'O' were found to be 0.043 μg/mL and 0.0107 μg/mL while in case of rabbit erythrocytes these were 0.0215 μg/mL and 0.175 μg/mL respectively.

Bioactivity potential of extracts from ascidian Lissoclinum fragile

Ascidians are marine biofouling animals with a proven ability to synthesis bioactive substances. This study investigated the bioactive potential of ascidian Lissoclinum fragile,found in the coastal waters of Tuticorin Southeast coast of India. Freshly collected ascidian soaked in methanol for five days and filtered through filter paper. The solvent was concentrated by rotary evaporator which reduced the pressure to give a dark brown gummy mass. The collected gummy mass was separately extracted successively with acetone, n-butanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane. These extracts were used for antimicrobial, heamolytic and cytotoxic assays. In antibacterial assay bacterial pathogen, S. typhi exhibit high zone of inhibition (14.1 ± 0.01 mm) against dichloromethane extract. In antifungal assay, fungal pathogen Penicillium species showed high zone of inhibition (12.3 ± 0.07 mm) against n-butanol extract. In haemolytic assay, n-butanol extract showed high heamolytic activity in chicken erythrocytes (64 HU), goat erythrocytes (16 HU) and cow erythrocytes (16 HU). In cytotoxic activity, n-butanol extract exhibited high LC50 value (97 µg/ml) against brine shrimps. These results indicate that the ascidian L. fragile has remarkable antimicrobial, haemolytic, and cytotoxic activities. Key words: Ascidian, Lissoclinum fragile, haemolytic and cytotoxic activities, antimicrobial.

Some descriptive characteristics of a new goat breed called Honamli in Turkey

This study has been carried out in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey on seven different Honamli goat flocks. The aim of this study was to determine the growth characters, survival rate (till weaning, 105th day), some reproductive characteristics and marketable milk yield. The data were collected from 516 does and 210 kids (125 buckling and 85 doelings). The results indicate that the numbers of multiple birth and litter size were 32.8 % and 1.35 respectively. Survival rates of kids at the 30th, 90th, and 105th days were 98.5, 97.2, and 97.2 %, respectively. The average birth weight for the buckling and doelings was 4.1 and 3.7 kg, respectively. The average weaning weights for buckling and doelings were 26.9 and 23.4 kg, respectively. The effects of dams' age, on sex and birth type on the growth of Honamli kids were statistically significant (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.001). While the diameters of erythrocytes of Honamli goats are smaller, the density of hemoglobin in the erythrocytes is more than Asian, Indian, and American caprine breeds. The average lactation length and marketable milk yield was assessed to be at 210.3 days and was 89 L, respectively. The growth characteristics of Honamli kids at weaning age were assessed to be higher than most of the other goat breeds in Turkey. The results further indicated that there is a significant variation in the production traits among the different Honamli goat flocks. Production traits of Honamli goats at different breeding conditions should further be investigated to come to a definite conclusion.

Purification, Characterizations of a Snake Guard Seeds Lectin with Antitumor Activity Against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells In Vivo in Mice

A lectin was purified (designated as TCSL) from the Snake guard seeds with molecular mass of 56±2 kDa containing two subunits (34±1 and 22±1 kDa.). TCSL exhibited high agglutination activity at the temperature range 30 to 70°C and did not lose its activity between pH 3.0 to 12.0. The lectin was stable in the presence of denaturants and agglutinated mouse, goat, cow, chicken and human erythrocytes. TCSL did not show antifungal activity whereas it agglutinated six pathogenic bacteria and showed less toxicity against brine shrimp nauplii with the LC50 of 261±29 μg/ml. TCSL showed 28% and 72% inhibition against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in vivo in mice when administered 1 mg/kg/day and 2 mg/kg/day (i.p.) respectively for five days. TCSL enhanced the number of macrophages remarkably in the normal mice. The lectin reduced the tumor burden to 62% of EAC cells and significantly increased the hemoglobin and RBC. Treating the EAC bearing mice with TCSL at 2 mg/Kg/day for ten days with a monitoring of 20 days decreased the total WBC towards the normal level and it increased the life span by 39%.

Status of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in goats naturally infected with Babesia ovis

This study aimed to assess lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in goats naturally infected with Babesia ovis. Red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activities and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in 15 goats naturally infected with B. ovis as well as same number of healthy goats. The parasitological diagnosis was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis by amplifying a partial 18S rRNA gene sequence of B. ovis. Percentage of parasitemia varied from 0.01 to 1%. The activities of erythrocyte GSH-Px, SOD, CAT and TAC were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the infected goats than in healthy ones. MDA concentration in erythrocytes of infected goats was significantly higher in infected goats than in healthy ones (p<0.05). Severity of parasitemia showed a positive correlation with the MDA and negative correlation with PCV, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and TAC. Also, MDA was negatively correlated with PCV, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and TAC. The results of this study suggested that oxidative damage to RBCs may contribute to the pathogenesis of anemia in caprine babesiosis.

Assessment of biomedical and pharmacological activities of sea anemones Stichodactyla mertensii and Stichodactyla gigantea from Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, southeast coast of India

Cnidarians comprise an old and diverse animal phylum, and possess a wide variety of biologically active substances. Sea anemones contain a diversity of interesting biologically active compounds including some potent toxins. In the present work, the sea anemones Stichodactyla mertensii and Stichodactyla gigantea, collected from the Mandapam coast, are characterized biomedically and pharmacologically. The crude protein was obtained by using methanol and aqueous extracts. The respective protein contents of S. mertensii and S. gigantea were found to be 2.10 µg/mL and 1.87 µg/mL. The methanol and aqueous extracts of S. mertensii and S. gigantea yielded six and nine bands by SDS-PAGE on 12% gel. In the hemolytic assay, both extracts exhibited hemolytic effect on chicken, goat, cow and human erythrocytes ('A', 'B' and 'O'). The neurotoxic effects of these crude extracts were determined in vivo using the sea shore crab Ocypode macrocera and mortality was observed. The mouse bioassay for lethality was performed on male albino mice. The crude extract of S. mertensii showed higher lethality (58 seconds at 1 mL-dose) than that of S. gigantea (2 minutes and 10 seconds at 0.75 mL-dose). The analgesic activity test was also carried out on albino mice by Eddy's hot plate and tail-flick methods. The extracts showed moderate analgesic effect by both hot-plate and tail-flick methods. These characteristics emphasize the need for the isolation and molecular characterization of new active toxins in S. mertensii and S. gigantea.

Differential actions of proteinases and neuraminidase on mammalian erythrocyte surface and its impact on erythrocyte agglutination by concanavalin A

Action of proteinases viz. trypsin and chymotrypsin, and neuraminidase on intact erythrocyte membrane proteins and glycophorins (sialoglycoproteins) exposed to cell surface and its impact on lectin (concanavalin A)-mediated agglutination were studied in Homo sapiens (human), Capra aegagrus hircus (goat) and Bubalus bubalis (buffalo). Membrane proteins and glycophorins analysis by SDS-PAGE as visualized by coomassie brilliant blue and periodic acid-schiff stains, respectively, and agglutination behaviour revealed marked differences: 1) there were prominent dissimilarities in the number and molecular weights of glycophorins in human, goat and buffalo erythrocyte membranes; 2) proteinase action(s) on human and buffalo erythrocyte surface membrane proteins and glycophorins showed similarity but was found different in goat; 3) significant differences in erythrocyte agglutinability with concanavalin A can be attributed to differences in membrane composition and alterations in the surface proteins after enzyme treatment; 4) a direct correlation was found between degradation of glycophorins and concanavalin A agglutinability; 5) action of neuraminidase specifically indicated the negative role of cell surface sialic acids in determining concanavalin A agglutinability of goat and buffalo erythrocytes, similar to human. Present studies clearly indicate that there are some basic differences in human, goat and buffalo erythrocyte membrane proteins, especially with respect to glycophorins, which determine the concanavalin A-mediated agglutination in enzyme treated erythrocytes.

Oxidative effects of long-term onion (Allium cepa) feeding on goat erythrocytes

Toxic compounds such as disulfides of onions cause oxidative-induced haemolysis in several animal species. In order to study the outcomes of long-term onion consumption on some oxidative haemolysis markers, 12 adult female goats were allocated to three groups, receiving 0% (served as control), 30% (dry matter basis) and 60% spring-grown onion for 60 days. Blood samples were obtained before feeding the onion and every 10 days up to 80 days for measuring malonyldialdehyde (MDA), methaemoglobin (MetHb), mean corpuscular fragility (MCF), serum-free haemoglobin and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and for evaluating their relation to packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. PCV and Hb concentrations reduced, however, remained within reference ranges in onion-fed goats. MetHb showed a significant negative correlation with both PCV and Hb (P < 0.05) in onion-fed goats and a significant positive correlation with MCF and serum-free haemoglobin in goats receiving 30% onion. MetHb showed a significant positive correlation with MCF in goats fed with 60% onion. MDA showed a positive correlation with LDH and serum-free haemoglobin concentrations. These results suggest a role for oxidative damage in destructing red cells in goats feeding onions. However, it seems that up to 60% onions in diet can be consumed by goats without noticeable clinical anaemia.

Sialoglycoproteins of Mammalian Erythrocyte Membranes: A Comparative Study

The presence of sialoglycoproteins (SGPs) in the membranes from goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), buffalo (Bubalus bubalis bubalis) and pig (Sus scrofa domestica) erythrocytes was investigated by partial purification with a chloroform-methanol extraction method followed by Sodium dodecyl sulphate - Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in comparison to human (Homo sapiens) erythrocytes. The results show that mammalian erythrocytes possess clear differences in the SGPs numbers and molecular weights although all animals studied in this experiment are from the same class i.e. mammalia. The SGPs number in human, goat, buffalo and pig are four (PAS-1 to PAS-4), ten (PAS-GI to PAS-GX), seven (PAS-BI to PAS-BVII) and four (PAS-PI to PAS-IV) respectively as indicated by staining the polyacrylamide gel with sialoglycoprotein-specific Periodic acid-Schiff's (PAS) stain. The new SGPs could be observed only after the partial purification of membrane fractions named as PAS-HI with molecular weight (Mr) 190 kDa and PAS-HII 150 kDa in human, PAS-BIA in buffalo and PAS-PIA and PAS-PIVA in pig. The gels were also stained with Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) and Silver stain to check the contamination of other membrane proteins in the purified fractions. The quantitative distribution of SGPs was also determined by densitometry. Present study indicates that there are some basic differences in mammalian erythrocyte membrane SGPs, especially with respect to their number and molecular weights indicating major structural variations.

Physiological Responses of Erythrocytes of Goats to Transportation and the Mondulatory Role of Ascorbic Acid

Experiments were performed with the aim of investigating the effect of road transportation for 12 hr on erythrocytes of goats during the hot-dry season and the modulatory role of ascorbic acid. Forty 2.5-3-year-old Red Sokoto goats weighing 23-25 kg and belonging to both sexes served as the subjects of the study. Twenty of the goats served as the experimental group and were administered ascorbic acid (AA) per os at a dosage rate of 100 mg/kg body weight; the other 20 served as controls and were given 10 ml each of sterile water. Forty minutes after the administration and loading, the goats were transported for 12 hr. EDTA blood samples collected before loading, after loading, immediately after transportation and subsequently on the 3rd and 7th days of post-transportation were used to determine the red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF), hematimetric (intrinsic) indices and hemoglobin index levels. The obtained results showed that handling, loading and transportation of the control goats induced significant (P<0.05) increases in RBC, Hb, EOF and hypochromic erythrocytes and a decrease (P<0.05) in the volume and average Hb content in RBCs. AA administration ameliorated all these changes. The present results suggest that road transportation for 12 hr during the hot-dry season could induce serious stress, resulting in hemolysis of erythrocytes, which was ameliorated by AA administration. In addition, the results demonstrated that EOF could be used as a diagnostic tool in road transportation stress.

Effect of calcium and diltiazem on phenylhydrazine-induced oxidative injury in goat erythrocytes

Lipid peroxidation, hemolysis and thiol contents were studied in intact goat erythrocytes exposed to phenylhydrazine. An increase in lipid peroxidation, hemolysis and thiol content was observed after phenylhydrazine treatment of erythrocyte. Extracellular Ca2+ potentiates the phenylhydrazine-induced lipid peroxidation and hemoly- sis of erythrocytes significantly. Ca2+ does not influence much the thiol content of phenylhydrazine treated erythrocytes. No effect of Ca2+ on control lipid peroxidation, hemolysis and thiol contents of erythrocytes was observed. Diltiazem and EDTA inhibited the increased responses of lipid peroxidation and hemolysis due to Ca2+. However the thiol content was not much influenced by either diltiazem or EDTA. The results suggest that oxidative damage of erythrocyte caused by phenyl hydrazine could be prevented by calcium channel antagonist, diltiazem, which may act as antioxidant also.