It is important to determine varying effects of anaesthetics agents. One of the adverse effects of general anaesthetics are the exogenous sources of reactive oxygen species. In this study, the effects of xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam (XTZ) and fentanyl-tiletamine-zolazepam (FTZ) combinations on plasma oxidant-antioxidant indicators were compared in sheep. Ten ewes received two different anaesthetic combinations in a ten-day interval. XTZ group was injected with xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam. FTZ group was injected with fentanyl and tiletamine-zolazepam. Blood samples were collected before and at the 30, 60, 120 min, 24 h and 3 days after anaesthesia. Both anaesthetic regimens caused an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in plasma. The MDA concentrations at 60, 120 min and 24 h in the XTZ group were significantly higher than in the FTZ group. Glutathione (GSH) concentration at 30, 60, 120 min and 24 h was significantly lower than baseline values in XTZ group, while there was only a decrease at 120 min in the FTZ group. GSH concentrations in the XTZ group were significantly lower at 60 and 120 min compared with the FTZ group. Beta carotene concentration was decreased at 120 min and 24 h in the XTZ group, while it decreased only at 120 min in the FTZ group. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities decreased at 120 min and 24 h only in the XTZ group. There were no significant differences in -carotene concentration, activities CAT and GSH-Px activities between groups. In conclusion, both XTZ and FTZ anaesthetic regimens induced oxidative stress in sheep. XTZ combination has more detrimental effect than FTZ combinations on particularly MDA and GSH concentrations. Therefore, FTZ anaesthetic combination is considered to be more suitable for sheep anaesthesia, due to less deteriorating effects on oxidant/antioxidant balance.
Anaesthesia, oxidative status, sheepGeneral anaesthesia is commonly used for surgical manipulations in small ruminants. An anaesthetic regimen with minimal side effects is desirable when anaesthesia is required for longer than 1 h in sheep (Lagutchik et al. 1991). One of the undesirable complications of general anaesthetics can be induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that occur during anaesthesia (Godin and Garnett 1994). Reactive oxygen species are produced as by-products of metabolism. In organisms, enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (urate, cysteine, vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene) antioxidant defence systems maintain ROS concentrations in the physiological range. Oxidative stress occurs when the balance between ROS and antioxidants defence is disturbed. ROS cause cellular destruction by oxidative damage of DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, by changing the structure and function of key cellular constituents that result in mutation, cell damage and death (Simeonova et al. 2004). Thus, ROS play an important role in the pathogenesis of different diseases such as inflammation, carcinogenesis and isch...