Modulation of antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte by dietary supplementation during heat stress in buffaloes

The aim of this study was to determine the ameliorative effect of dietary supplementation on heat stress induced oxidative stress in buffalo erythrocytes. Experiments were performed on eight adult buffaloes of either sex divided in two groups of four animals each viz. group I (control), group II (supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate and ascorbic acid). Animals were exposed to hot dry (40 °C, ambient humidity) and hot humid (37 °C, 70% relative humidity) conditions for 4 h daily for 5 days in psychrometric chamber. Activities catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased after exposure to heat stress in both groups under hot dry as well as hot humid conditions. Supplemented group showed significant (P < 0.05) fall in CAT, SOD and G6PD activities and levels of GSH and TBARS. The results indicate that supplementation of ascorbate along with salts (sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate) was effective in reducing heat stress in buffaloes.