The effects of zinc-methionine supplementation on antioxidant indices and liver enzymes in plasma of Friesian horses under heat stress

Subject Areas : Zoology

Ahmad Miri ¹ , Ali Asghar Sadeghi ² , Mohammad Chamani ³ , ASA Ebrahimi ⁴

1 - PhD student, Department of Animal Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate professor, Department of Animal Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Full professor, Department of Animal Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Associate professor, Department of Biotechnology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2024-06-26 Accepted : 2024-09-18 Published : 2025-02-16

Keywords: antioxidant enzymes, heat stress, horse, liver enzymes, zinc-methionine,

Abstract :

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary zinc-methionine supplementation in horses exposed to heat stress on blood antioxidant indices, antioxidant enzyme activity and liver enzyme activity. Materials and Methods: In a factorial trial based on a completely randomized design, 30 Frisian horses were applied in two levels of heat stress and three levels of zinc-methionine supplementation. Stress levels included; 1) no stress; 2) exposed to heat stress. Three levels of zinc-methionine supplementation were used, including; 1) no supplementation, 2) 67 mg of zinc-methionine per kg of diet and 3) 120 mg of zinc-methionine per kg of diet. Blood samples were taken from horses and antioxidant indices and liver enzyme activity were measured. Results: Heat stress increased and zinc-methionine supplementation decreased significantly the concentration of malondialdehyde. An increase in the dose of zinc-methionine had no significant effect on the concentration of malondialdehyde. The interaction effect of stress and supplementation on the activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme tended to be significant and also on the activity of glutathione peroxidase enzyme. The activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes increased in horses exposed to heat stress and showed a significant decrease with zinc-methionine supplementation. Conclusion: The zinc-methionine supplementation at a dose of 67 mg/kg can eliminate the negative effects of heat stress on antioxidant indices and liver enzymes in Friesian horses.

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