Serum T3 and T4 concentrations in lambs with nutritional myodegeneration.
BACKGROUND
Selenium (Se) deficiency is an important etiological factor in Nutritional Myodegeneration Disease (NMD) of lambs, and Se is required for synthesis of thyroid hormones.


OBJECTIVE
That serum T4 and T3 concentrations in lambs with NMD will be abnormal.


METHODS
Ten healthy lambs and 15 lambs with NMD were included in the study.


METHODS
Serum thyroid hormone concentrations were measured by chemiluminescence assay in samples collected from control and NMD lambs before and after treatment with a preparation containing sodium selenite, vitamin E, and vitamin B1, which was administered subcutaneously to lambs with NMD twice, with a 2-week interval.


RESULTS
Before treatment, serum concentrations of fT3 and TT3 in lambs with NMD were lower than those of control group (P < .001), while serum concentrations of fT4 and TT4 in lambs with NMD were significantly higher than those of control group (P < .001, P < .01, respectively). Similarly, serum creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values in lambs with NMD were significantly higher compared with those of control (P < .001, P < .001, P < .001, P < .01, and P < .05, respectively) before treatment. However, serum concentrations of Se and alpha-tocopherol in lambs with NMD were significantly lower compared with those of control (P < .001). After treatment (at day 30), none of the variables were significantly different between control and NMD lambs (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Nutritional myodegeneration in lambs is associated with abnormalities in serum thyroid concentrations. Abnormalities in serum thyroid concentrations can result from selenium deficiency in NMD lambs. Serum thyroid concentrations together with serum CK, LDH, AST, ALT, and ALP values can be considered additional tools in diagnosis and prognosis of NMD in lambs.
Kozat
Süleyman
S
Vocational High School of Ozalp, University of Yuzuncu Yil, 65800 Ozalp-Van, Turkey. skozat@hotmail.com
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013831:Thiamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014284:Triiodothyronine; D014810:Vitamin E; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D013974:Thyroxine; D013831:Thiamine