​Assessment of the Levels of Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress during Peri-parturient Period in Gir Cows

Background: Dairy cows during late pregnancy, parturition or early lactation may be subjected to oxidative stress or the production of reactive oxygen metabolites. An imbalance between increased production of ROS and reduced availability of antioxidant defenses near the time of parturition increases oxidative stress and may contribute to peri-parturient disorders in dairy cows therefore in present investigation, of biomarkers of oxidative stress during peri-parturient period in Gir cows were studied. Methods: Total 42 peri-parturient Gir cows were included in the present study. Ten apparently healthy Gir cows were also selected (which were outside the peri-parturient period) to have base line data on levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress for the comparison and analysis. The study was conducted in southern part of Rajasthan. Result: The mean values of malondialdehyde (n mol/g Hb), super oxidase dismutase (U/mg Hb), reduced glutathione (mM) and catalase (µmol of H2O2 consumed /min/mg Hb) during pre-partum period and post-partum period in Gir cows was 227.34±9.48 and 255.85±11.15; 72.97±4.96 and 56.13±4.30; 2.72±0.15 and 2.27±0.15 and 139.85±3.81 and 121.57±4.65, respectively. Determination of levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress revealed that level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased during peri-parturient period in Gir cows whereas, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced Glutathione (GSH) were significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased. The level of catalase was also significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased during peri-parturient period in Gir cows.