الفهرس 
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Abstract
A total of 91 sheep of different ages and sexes were included in the present study. Animals were classified according to their ages into three groups: Group (1) included sheep between 6 months and one year old (6≤12 months). Group (2) included sheep between one and two years old (1≤2 years). Group (3) included sheep above 2 years old.
Blood samples were collected from each sheep through jugular vein puncture. Blood samples were transferred directly after collection to the laboratory and analyzed on the same day of collection. Two types of blood samples were collected from each animal:
Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein over the inner side of clean and dry Vacutainer tubes containing Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) as anticoagulant and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm, the plasma was transferred into clean and dry eppendorf tubes and used for measuring superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The packed cells were used for making the hemolysates and were used for the estimation of erythrocytic GSH-Px activity.
About 10 ml blood samples were collected in clean and dry tubes (containing no anticoagulant) from each animal under the study. These samples used for separation of serum and were used for the determination of blood serum levels of total proteins, albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, phosphorous, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT).
Serum and hemolysate samples were divided into 5 aliquots:
1) Part 1 was used for laboratory analysis on the same day of collection (day 0).
2) Part 2 was stored at room temperature (+25ᵒC) and analyzed after one week.
3) Part 3 was stored in refrigerator (4ᵒC) and analyzed after two weeks.
4) Part 4 was stored at -20ᵒC, and analyzed after one year.
5) Part 5 was stored at -80ᵒC and analyzed after one year.
Results were as follow:
There were insignificant changes in serum total proteins after storage of serum for one week at room temperature in groups 1 and 2. There were insignificant changes in serum total protein level after storage of serum for two weeks in the refrigerator. However, serum proteins level was significantly decreased in samples stored for one year at both -20ᵒC and -80ᵒC in all groups.
There was insignificant change in serum albumin level after one week storage at room temperature in all groups compared with 0 day. Storage of serum for two weeks in the refrigerator resulted in a significant decrease in albumin level only in group 2 (1≤2 years old). Albumin showed a significant increase after storage for one year at - 20oC in group1. No significant change was observed in serum albumin level in all groups after storage of serum for one year at -80oC.
There were significant increases in serum globulins levels after storage of serum for one week at room temperature in groups 1 and 3. Comparing serum globulins data obtained after storage of serum for two weeks in the refrigerator with data on day 0, revealed insignificant changes in all groups. On the other hand, serum globulins levels were significantly decreased in all groups after storage for one year both at -20ᵒC and -80ᵒC.
Serum glucose level was significantly decreased after storage of serum for one week at room temperature in groups 1 and 3. However, there was a significant decrease after storage for two weeks in the refrigerator in group 1 only. No significant change was observed in glucose level after storage of serum for one year both at -20ᵒC in all groups.
There was a significant increase in serum phosphorus level after storage of serum for one week at room temperature in all groups. Serum phosphorus level was significantly higher in serum stored for two weeks in the refrigerator only in group 1. There were insignificant changes in serum phosphorus levels after storage for one year at both - 20oC and - 80oC in all groups.
Comparing data for serum BUN level on day 0 with other storage periods revealed significant increases in its level after storage for one week at room temperature in groups 1 and 2 and insignificant increase in group 3. No significant changes were observed in serum BUN levels after storage for two weeks in the refrigerator and also for one year at -20oC in all groups. There were significant decreases in BUN levels in all groups after storage for one year at -80oC.
After storage of serum for one week at room temperature, serum creatinine level significantly decreased in group 1 and showed a significant increase in group 2. However, no significant change was observed in its level in group 3. Storage of serum for two weeks in the refrigerator resulted in a significant increase in creatinine level in group 3 only. On the other hand, longer storage for one year at -20oC resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine level in group 2. After storage of serum for one year at -80oC, no significant change was observed in serum creatinine level in all groups.
Comparing data for different storage periods with day 0 revealed insignificant changes in ALT activities after storage of serum for one week at room temperature and for two weeks in the refrigerator in all age groups. However, serum ALT activity showed significant increase after storage for one year at -20oC in all age groups. On the other hand, there was insignificant change in serum ALT in group 1 after storage for one year at -80oC, and significant increases in serum ALT activities in groups 2 and 3 after storage for one year at -80oC.
No significant change was observed in serum AST activity after storage of serum for one week at room temperature in all age groups. However, storage of serum for two weeks in the refrigerator led to a significant decrease in serum AST activity in group 1 and insignificant decrease in groups 2 and 3. AST activity was significantly increased in all age groups after storage of serum for one year at -20oC. On the other hand, AST activity was significantly increased only in group 3 after storage of serum for one year at -80oC.
In group 1, there was no significant change in serum ALP activity after storage of serum for one week at room temperature, two weeks in the refrigerator and for one year at -20oC. However, its activity showed a significant increase when stored for one year at -80oC. In group 2, serum ALP showed a significant decrease after storage of serum for one week, two weeks and for one year at -20oC. In group 3, there were significant increases in serum ALP activity after all storage periods implemented in the present study.
GGT activity showed significant increase after storage of serum for one week at room temperature and for one year at both -20oC and -80oC in groups 1 and 2. No significant change was observed in serum GGT activity after all storage periods in group 3.
There was insignificant change in plasma catalase activity after all storage periods in groups 1. However, in group 2, plasma catalase activity showed significant decrease in all storage periods.
Plasma SOD activity showed significant decrease after all storage periods in all groups.
Erythrocytes GSH-Px activity showed significant decrease after storage of the hemolysate for one week at room temperature in all groups, and also when the hemolysate stored for two weeks in the refrigerator in group 1. In groups 1 and 2, no significant change was observed in GSH-Px activity after storage for one year at both -20ᵒC and -80ᵒC.