Activity of glutathione system enzymes in newborn calves and piglets

Abstract

Today, all agricultural sectors are under the influence of technological modernization. The rapid change in the conditions of keeping and feeding animals increases the technogenic impact on their organism. In the conditions of industrial pig production, the influence of technological modernization factors causes numerous stresses that underlie disorders of physiological functions of the body. Any changes in the environment affect the dynamic equilibrium in the body of animals, affecting the development of a general adaptation syndrome. Excessive formation of free radicals activates the processes of lipid peroxidation, inhibits the activity of the antioxidant defense system. The glutathione chain of antioxidant defense plays an important role in this system, especially in newborn animals. We have found that the enzymes of the glutathione chain of antioxidant defense in blood cells significantly depend on the birth number of piglets and calves. The activity of catalase in erythrocytes was the lowest in the first three newborn piglets (first group). It was 1.04, 1.08, and 1.12 times lower than in piglets of the following groups. Similar activity was found for total peroxidase. In the blood leukocytes of piglets of the first group, the activity of catalase was 1.33‒1.42 times lower and that of total peroxidase 1.23‒1.77 times lower than in piglets of the following groups (p<0.01). The activity of antioxidant defense enzymes in platelets of newborn piglets on the first day after birth was almost at the level of leukocytes. The content of total glutathione in the erythrocytes of blood of piglets of the first group was 1.04 times less than that of animals of group 2 and 1.06‒1.12 times less than that of piglets of groups 3 - 4, and in leukocytes 1.19‒1.21 times less. The metabolic products of the glutathione chain components of the antioxidant defense system of newborn piglets in leukocytes were less. The content of total glutathione in the blood platelets of piglets of the first group was significantly less than that of animals of group 2 and 1.25‒1.27 times less than that of piglets of groups 3‒4. Similar dynamics of the activity of the components of the glutathione chain of antioxidant defense persists until the end of the newborn period in piglets and calves.