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The ingestion of excessive amounts of the fluoride ion (F) may cause chronic fluorosis with abnormalities in many organs and systems including, in addition to dental and skeletal fluorosis, impaired renal function. The aim of the present study was to investigate renal function and the levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) as oxidative stress markers in chronically fluorotic sheep with kidney disease. Fifteen healthy and 30 fluorotic sheep were studied. The plasma F levels were determined with a F-selective electrode. The plasma AOPP and the serum total protein levels were measured spectrophotometrically. The serum BUN, creatinine, potassium, sodium, and chloride levels were determined by autoanalyzer. Compared to the control group, significant increases were present in the fluorotic sheep in the levels of F (p≤0.001), AOPP (p≤0.001), BUN (p≤0.001), creatinine (p≤0.05), and total protein (p≤0.05). A significant decrease was present in the fluorotic sheep in the level of potassium (p≤0.01) while no significant changes were present in the sodium and chloride concentrations. The levels of AOPP in chronically fluorotic sheep, reported here for the first time in veterinary science, and the biochemical abnormalities can be considered in the evaluation of the effects of chronic fluorosis on kidney function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White muscle disease (WMD), is an important disease also known as ‘muscular dystrophy' in the lamb and calf. White muscle disease is the result of degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles in lambs. Lambs mostly affected with the congenital form either born death or die a few day after birth. The disease is a manifestation of lack of selenium, vitamin E or both. Van and surrounding villiages were visited and lambs with WMD examined. The lambs with 3-10 days of age were used as research materials. Necropsy and gross examinations was performed to all lambs. The blood samples were analyzed for Vitamin E amount, Creatine kinase (CK), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. The level of Vitamin E was decreased, but the other parameters significantly increased. In heart, chest and gluteal muscle lesions in lambs were found. Tissue samples were histopathologically examined. Muscular dystrophic calcification in necrotic areas as well as hyaline degeneration and Zenker necrosis were determined. In the calcified region mononuclear cell infiltration mainly macrophages, were observed. In conclusion in lamb with white muscle disease; the activities of enzymes related to muscle health were raised drastically. In gluteal, chest and especially in heart muscle the hyalin and Zenker degeneration were noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin levels of ram seminal plasma and the relationship between vitamins and spermatological characteristics. For this aim, nine 3-5 year old rams of Norduz, Karakas and Ile-de-France x Akkaraman (G1) genotypes were provided. Sperm of each ram was collected once per month from June to October of the year 2007 by artificial vagina. In each month, the concentrations of retinol acetate, alpha tocopherol, delta tocopherol, alpha tocopherol acetate and vitamin D3 in seminal plasma were analyzed by using HPLC. Spermatological characteristics viz. sperm volume, pH, mass activity, sperm motility, abnormal spermatozoid, death/alive ratio and sperm concentration were evaluated. As testicular characteristics, scrotal circumference and testicular diameter were measured. Monthly changes and breed differences on the vitamin levels were statistically insignificant, whereas there was a positive correlation was obtained between testis diameter and retinol acetate levels (p<0.05) and a positive correlation was also estimated between analyzed vitamins. As a result, the relationships between the testicular, spermatological characteristics, and vitamin compositions should be taken into account in the breeding targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]