Progesterone concentration, oxidants and antioxidants indices in singleton and multiple bearings ewes and does

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the fetal number and oxidative stress which could be useful indicators in the clinical management of pregnancy in sheep and goats. Blood samples were taken from three groups: Group1, non-pregnant, non-estrous, Group2, single bearing pregnancies, and Group 3, multiple bearing pregnancies. The pregnant animals were in the second half of pregnancy'. Blood samples were measured for progesterone (P) concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes. The concentration of progesterone in pregnant animals carrying a single or multiple fetuses were higher than that of non-pregnant. The P concentration in case of multiple fetuses was higher than that bearing a single fetus in both sheep and goats. MDA significantly increase in multiple bearing animals accompanied by decrease of TAC level when compared with both non-pregnant and animals with single fetus. SOD activity of singleton and multiple bearings animals were found lower than non-pregnant animals. The activity of CAT decreased in multiple bearing goats but was the same in all sheep groups. The multiple bearing sheep and goats were presented to the danger of oxidative stress during second half of pregnancy than single bearing animals and non-pregnant ones that could be useful in prediction adverse pregnancy outcome.