Evaluation of low-grade <i>In Vitro</i> Oxidative Stress in Goat Erythrocytes Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide and Dexamethasone

Abstract

Under conditions of oxidative stress, erythrocytes of goats could be predisposed to haemolysis. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of  oxidant exposure to goat erythrocytes using an in vitro model. Blood samples from 10 goats were incubated with 0.06 – 0.18 mM hydrogen peroxide  (H2O2) either singly or in combination with 0.02 μM dexamethasone for 60 min, and erythrocyte parameters such as packed cell volume  (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and percentage haemolysis in hypotonic sucrose solution (250 mOsmol/L) were  determined thereafter. No significant changes in the mean values of all parameters were observed. The in vitro model indicated that erythrocyte  parameters remained stable under low-grade oxidant exposure in goats. Therefore, plasma H₂O₂ concentration of ≤ 0.18 mM, whether in the  presence or absence of 0.02 μM dexamethasone, may not induce apparent oxidative damage in goat erythrocytes that could be estimated by PCV,  RBC, MCV and sucrose-based osmotic fragility at low hypotonicity.