Antioxidant status and functional condition of respiratory system of newborn calves with intrauterine growth retardation

Intrauterine fetal and embryo growth retardation (IUGR), defined as a discrepancy of embryo forming and fetus size and their gestation terms, is a common pathology among farm animals. Respiratory dysfunctions in newborns with IUGR are among the factors leading to animal death from birth to weaning. The immature antioxidant defense system (AOS) of newborns with IUGR predisposes to oxidative stress progression and associated pathologies. We show in this paper the lack of enzymatic and non-enzymatic links of antioxidant protection, an increased concentration of malonic dialdehyde in blood and in exhaled air, and higher expiration of enzymes of different subcellular localization, i.e. alanine aminotransferase, g-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, indicating damage to the respiratory tract cells. These data contribute to elucidating mechanisms of respiratory dysfunctions as influenced by IUGR. A comparative study of AOS indicators, functional state of respiratory organs of newborn calves and the respiratory disease progression in the neonatal period was carried out at a large dairy complex (Agrotech-Garant Nashchekino Co...