ERYTHROCYTE GLUTATHIONE CONCENTRATIONS IN NIGERIAN SAHEL GOATS

The erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) concentrations of 210 Nigerian Sahel goats were 2.4-175.2 (46.5+/-36.4) mg/100 ml RBC or 0.1-7.3 (1.9+/-1. 4) mg/gHb. The frequency distribution of the blood and erythrocyte GSH values were positively skewed, but the packed cell volume (PCV) and h aemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were normally distributed. The erythroc yte GSH values in mg/100 ml RBC and mg/gHb were strongly correlated. M ajority of the goat population (74.8%) had low or 'deficient' erythroc yte GSH concentrations (less than or equal to 60 mg/100 ml RBC). Sixte en animals with very low erythrocyte GSH values of 2.4-9.8 (6.9+/-2.9) mg/100 ml RBC were not anaemic and the anaemic goats with PCV of 17.0 +/-0.9% had GSH concentrations of 3.5-97.5 (45.0+/-42.8) mg/100 ml RBC . The erythrocyte GSH values were not correlated with PCV or Hb, and a naemia. The biochemical basis for the low erythrocyte GSH concentratio ns is yet to be determined. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.