Gender Bias in Haemato-Biochemical and Oxidative Stress Indices in Karakul Sheep

Twelve apparently healthy 3–4 year old animals from cold arid deserts of Ladakh region, with equal representation of male and female were bled in the jugular vein after observing strict aseptic measures. Three samples from each animal were collected at an interval of 15 days and values averaged. Normal physiological levels of haemato-biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers were recorded. Many of the hematological parameters did differ between sexes. Total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count and haemoglobin was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (10.32 × 10⁶, 9.03 × 10³ and 11.25 g/dl) in males as compared to females (9.04 × 10⁶, 7.75 × 10³ and 10.10 g/dl) respectively. Similarly plasma albumin (3.53 g/dl) and creatinine (1.28 mg/dl) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher and cholesterol (77.66 mg/dl) significantly (P < 0.01) lower in males as compared to females (3.23 g/dl, 1.03 mg/dl and 113.83 mg/dl) respectively. Antioxidant power determined by FRAP did not reveal any significant difference between sexes, however, TBARS differed significantly (P < 0.01) between the sexes with higher value (3.84 ± 0.15 nM/L) in males than females (2.88 ± 0.22 nM/L). Various other plasma analytes including liver enzymes did not vary significantly between the sexes. Present study recognized the course of various blood constituents between the sexes of Karakul sheep which was not available in literature and thus can prove potentially valuable diagnostic tool in the health care and clinical interpretation of laboratory data in these animals.