Authors : O.I. Azeez, A.A. Oyagbemi and J.O. Oyewale
Abstract: The effects of transportation stress and pretreatment with non-enzymic antioxidants vitamins C and E on the erythrocyte osmotic fragility, haematocrit, haemoglobin, red blood cell and white blood cell counts, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and the differential leucocyte counts were investigated using the domestic chicken. About 32, adult female domestic chickens of the Nera black strain were used. The birds were divided into four groups A-D consisting of 8 birds each. Groups A and B did not receive any medication. Group C received vitamin C (650 mg kg-1 diet) while D, vitamin E (270 mg kg-1 diet) in feed for 2 weeks. Birds in groups B, C and D were transported through a distance of 200 km. Blood samples were collected within 30 min after the journey for analysis. Contrary to the expectation, the erythrocyte osmotic fragility was lower in the transported, untreated birds than the control while those pretreated with vitamins C and E had higher osmotic fragility. Haemoglobin and MCHC values were higher in the transported, untreated while other parameters were similar. This study demonstrated that nucleated erythrocytes of the domestic chicken unlike other animals with non nucleated erythrocytes, respond to acute stress by increase in osmotic resistance and membrane stability in hypotonic solution, this was antagonized by pretreatment with vitamins C and E.
O.I. Azeez, A.A. Oyagbemi and J.O. Oyewale, 2011. Erythrocyte Membrane Stability after Transportation Stress in the Domestic Chicken as Modulated by Pretreatment with Vitamins C and E. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 1273-1277.