The study was carried out to assess whether hot seasons affect the …

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Biology Articles » Bioclimatology » Markers of Oxidative Status in Plasma and Erythrocytes of Transition Dairy Cows During Hot Season » Conclusions

Conclusions

- Markers of Oxidative Status in Plasma and Erythrocytes of Transition Dairy Cows During Hot Season

Summer conditions capable of producing moderate heat stress cause oxidative stress in transition dairy cows.

Erythrocytes are an appropriate and sensitive model for studing the oxidative status of moderately heat-stressed transition dairy cows. In contrast, the evaluation of the effect of moderate heat stress on oxidative status in transition dairy cows by use of plasma markers does not give enough information to reach definitive conclusions.

Finally, an increase of SOD and a concentration of SH in erythrocytes are likely to represent adaptive changes of cows in response to heat stress.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors acknowledge the able technical help provided by C. Bruti, R. Signorelli, and A. Colagiacomo.

FOOTNOTES  

¹ Research was financially supported by M.U.R.S.T.—Cofinanziamento 1999.

Received for publication December 21, 2001. Accepted for publication April 8, 2002.