Changes in Hormones and Some Antioxidant Markers That Correlated to Zinc Deficiency and Affecting Wool Growth in Male Lambs

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the correlation between the hormones and antioxidant changes as a biomarker related to zinc deficiency that affecting wool growth. Twenty male lambs were divided into 2 group, 1 st group G1 (N=10) control healthy group, which received a total mixed ration (TMR). While 2 nd group (N=10) zinc deficiency group, which received a concentrate ration low in zinc with high calcium levels for 3 months, after diet analysis it contains zinc 23.56 ppm and calcium 1.61% as feed dry matter basis. The clinical feature of induced zinc deficient male lambs revealed area of alopecia around eye and nose, in addition to poor wool growth with keratinization and crusts and scales formation on ear and may scattered all over the body. The result of group two serum analysis revealed significantly decrease anti-oxidants (SOD, CAT, GSH and TOAC) andhormones (Growth, thyroids and testosterone) while significantly increase in calcium and anti-oxidant of MDA with T4 hormone in comparison with group one, with a strong positive and reverse correlation to zinc level respectively. We concluded from our results that there was a correlation coefficient between the vital hormones and anti-oxidant changes as a biomarker related to zinc deficiency affecting wool growth in male lambs.