title: Impact of pregnancy and nutrition on oxidant/antioxidant balance in sheep and goats reared in South Sinai, Egypt.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To monitor the effect of nutrition and pregnancy on oxidative status of animals under the arid condition of South Sinai.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were taken from two groups of animals: The first group retained in farm and fed on concentrate (high diet) and another group grazing natural forage (low diet). Each group was subdivided into pregnant and non-pregnant animals. Blood samples were assayed for their content of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDA level significantly increased in pregnant animals fed either concentrate or grazing low-quality forage and accompanied by a low level of TAC in pregnant grazing animals fed low-quality forage. The activity of CAT decreased in pregnant fed either concentrate or grazing and SOD significant decrease in the pregnant grazing group. These data suggested that the animals might have experienced some degree of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and indicating that redox homeostasis was impaired in those pregnant and specially fed on forage rations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancy constituted the most oxidative stress facing the grazing and concentrated diet feed sheep and goats under arid and saline conditions of Southern Sinai, Egypt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction & Artificial Insemination, National Research Centre, Dokki, Tahrir Street, 12622 Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Nawito
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction & Artificial Insemination, National Research Centre, Dokki, Tahrir Street, 12622 Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amal R Abd El
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hameed
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction & Artificial Insemination, National Research Centre, Dokki, Tahrir Street, 12622 Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: A S A
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction & Artificial Insemination, National Research Centre, Dokki, Tahrir Street, 12622 Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Karima Gh M
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
keywords: nutrition; oxidant/antioxidant; pregnancy; sheep and goats