The levels of glutathione and hemoglobin in sheep erythrocytes as a function of age

The behaviour of the levels of glutathione (GSH) and hemoglobin (Hb) was studied in blood samples from 126 one- to seven-year-old sheep reared in the province of Salerno, Italy. Negative and significant correlation with age both for hemoglobin and glutathione has been reported. A significant difference, on the basis of age, is evidenced only in males (n=24) for Hb (P = 0.001) and only in females (n=102) for GSH (P = 0.001). These results indicate a greater presence of Hb in young sheep and a greater demand for GSH in adult sheep. Moreover, the lowering of GSH and Hb with respect to age may have caused a reduction of the organism defense to environmental stress factors. Therefore, it would be useful, at least in productive animals, to use feed with a high content of polyphenolic compounds that increase the GSH concentration. The aim of the present work was to study the behaviour of the levels of glutathione and hemoglobin in sheep at different ages.