Does age and parity affect the oxidative profile of pregnant and postpartum mares?

The research article explores the influence of age, parity, and gestation on the oxidative profile of pregnant and postpartum mares. It shares that maternal age notably impacts glutathione peroxidase and magnesium concentrations during the last trimester of gestation, parturition, and postpartum periods.

Study Introduction and Aim

• This study aimed to investigate oxidative changes in mares during the final trimester of gestation and the postpartum period, considering factors like age and parity.
• The motivation behind this research comes from the observation that unlike in horses, the effects of maternal age and parity on women’s oxidative profiles are well-documented. The researchers sought to bring a similar depth of understanding to the field of veterinary medicine.

Study Design and Methodology

• The researchers analysed seventeen mares that were divided into groups based on their age, classified as 3-7 years, 8-11 years, and 12 or more years, as well as by parity, split into nulliparous, 1-3 parities, and 4-6 parities.
• Oxidative processes were evaluated using measures of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), protein oxidation, and levels of total iron and magnesium.
• Antioxidant defenses for each group were gauged through tests for glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase activities.

Study Findings

• The study found an interaction between maternal age and gestation duration, especially concerning magnesium levels.
• Levels of glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme, were observed to be higher in older mares, and a time effect was noted among the different groups.
• In contrast, other measures such as those for glutathione reductase, another antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase, which is involved in the repair or removal of harmful substances in the body, as well as indicators of lipid and protein oxidation and total iron, exhibited no significant variations over the course this research.

Study Conclusion

• The final conclusion drawn from this research indicates that a mare’s age can affect the concentrations of glutathione peroxidase and magnesium during the concluding trimester of gestation, parturition, and the postpartum time periods.
• This study provides valuable information about the oxidative profile changes in pregnant and postpartum mares and yields further insights into how maternal age might play a role in antioxidant mechanisms within these animals.