Cellular and some biochemical changes in blood and peritoneal fluid constituents in Awassi lambs following elective castration

No reports could be cited in the recent literature concerning the effects of surgical castration on blood and peritoneal fluid constituents in lambs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of surgical castration on cellular and some biochemical parameters of blood and peritoneal fluid in Awassi lambs. Eight, clinically healthy, 5-month-old, Awassi lambs were surgically castrated. Peritoneal fluid and blood samples were collected prior to castration (day 0) and on days 1, 3 and 7 post castration. Total nucleated cell count (TNCC) was determined using an electric cell counter. Total protein (TP), albumin, fibrinogen, creatinine urea, glucose, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations were analyzed using commercially available kits. Following castration, the number of peripheral fluid white blood cells (WBC) and the percentage of neutrophils significantly increased (p0.05) in the percentage of lymphocytes in the peritoneal fluid. The concentration of peritoneal fluid TP, urea, creatinine, glucose, ALP and AST significantly increased (p