The Effect of Transportation Stress on Thyroid Hormones, Cortisol, and Some Biochemical Parameters in Sheep

Abstract

In this study, the effect of transportation stress on thyroid hormones, cortisol, and some biochemical parameters was investigated. Twenty Red Karaman ewes, 2-3 years old, were used in the study. Before the transportation process, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein and transferred to the tubes and considered as control, while the samples taken after transport were considered as experiment group. The travel distance was 120 km and it took approximately 3 h. The average environmental temperature of the loading place was approximately 25oC. Aliquots of blood samples were placed into two tubes: one plain glass tube used for serum thyroid hormones and biochemical parameters; one tube containing EDTA used for plasma cortisol. Blood samples were kept on ice until transprtation to the laboratory, and the samples was stored at -20oC until analyzed. In the control and experiment groups, thyroxine concenrations were found as 5,77 ± 1,04 and 6,98± 1,24 ?g/dl respectively, and elevated (P<0.05) in experiment group compared with their control counterparts. Triidothyronine concentrations were analyzed as 104,66±21,78 ng/dl and 147, 05± 25,48 ng/dl respectively, and the diference between the control and the experiment group were found to be significant (P<0.05). Free T4(fT4) concentrations were found as 0,93± 0,13 ng/dl ve 0,97±0,5 ng/dl, and Free T3 (fT3) 3,41±0,84, 3,61±0.81 pg/dl respectively. Serum cortisol concentrations were elevated (P<0.001) in transported sheeps compared with control counterparts. Total protein and trigliceryde levels were not changed (P>0.05) but albumin, Laktat dehidrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) levels were found to be elevated (P<0.05) in the transported group compared with controls. Key Words: Cortisol, sheep, stres, thyroid hormones, transportation.

In this study, the effect of transportation stress on thyroid hormones, cortisol, and some biochemical parameters was investigated. Twenty Red Karaman ewes, 2-3 years old, were used in the study. Before the transportation process, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein and transferred to the tubes and considered as control, while the samples taken after transport were considered as experiment group. The travel distance was 120 km and it took approximately 3 h. The average environmental temperature of the loading place was approximately 25oC. Aliquots of blood samples were placed into two tubes: one plain glass tube used for serum thyroid hormones and biochemical parameters; one tube containing EDTA used for plasma cortisol. Blood samples were kept on ice until transprtation to the laboratory, and the samples was stored at -20oC until analyzed. In the control and experiment groups, thyroxine concenrations were found as 5,77 ± 1,04 and 6,98± 1,24 ?g/dl respectively, and elevated (P<0.05) in experiment group compared with their control counterparts. Triidothyronine concentrations were analyzed as 104,66±21,78 ng/dl and 147, 05± 25,48 ng/dl respectively, and the diference between the control and the experiment group were found to be significant (P<0.05). Free T4(fT4) concentrations were found as 0,93± 0,13 ng/dl ve 0,97±0,5 ng/dl, and Free T3 (fT3) 3,41±0,84, 3,61±0.81 pg/dl respectively. Serum cortisol concentrations were elevated (P<0.001) in transported sheeps compared with control counterparts. Total protein and trigliceryde levels were not changed (P>0.05) but albumin, Laktat dehidrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) levels were found to be elevated (P<0.05) in the transported group compared with controls. Key Words: Cortisol, sheep, stres, thyroid hormones, transportation.