Antioxidant systems and lymphocyte proliferation in the horse, sheep and dog.

This research study explores the specific antioxidant systems in horses, sheep, and dogs, and their influence on the immune system, by assessing their lymphocyte activity, plasma glutathione levels, and the effect of hydrogen peroxide on lymphocyte responses.

Major Findings

• In the study, sheep had the lowest plasma glutathione levels, but the highest lymphocyte activity. Dogs, on the other hand, displayed the opposite pattern, with high glutathione and low lymphocyte activity. Horses showed intermediate values for both parameters.
• The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the proliferation of lymphocytes was the same for all three species, with a dosage of 200 microM being highly inhibitive.
• The inhibition varied by species, with sheep displaying the highest sensitivity to the antiproliferative effect of hydrogen peroxide.

Implications

• The research confirmed that high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (200 microM) are harmful to the cellular functions of all animals. However, the effect is regulated by a rigorously species-specific relationship between intracellular reactive oxygen species and the molecular systems involved in cell proliferation.
• These findings illuminate the species-specific nature of oxidant-antioxidant balance, providing crucial insights for animal health studies and potentially informing healthcare of these animals.

Methodology

• This study involved measuring lymphocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity, plasma glutathione levels (GSH), and the effect of H2O2 on lymphocyte responses across three species of animals.
• Through this process, the researchers were able to determine the effect of these parameters on the immune system of each species.