Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in anticoagulated blood of healthy sheep.

Background : Little or no study has been done to compare the indices of ‘nitrosative’ and ‘oxidative’ stresses, especially in terms of correlation and the possible differential effects of the chelating agents. Objective: This preliminary study investigated possible correlations between the indices of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in blood, effect of anticoagulated-blood tubes, and impact of blood-clotting pathways. Methods: Thirty blood samples from sheep were collected into ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citrate tubes at the Berrima Veterinary Laboratory using their standard protocol. Nitrosative and oxidative stress indices were then measured and correlation analyses performed. Results: The ROS and RNS indices were weakly correlated (r > 0.2; p < 0.05) with each other from the EDTA sample, but not from citrated blood. None of the nitrosative or oxidative stress biomarkers was significantly associated with changes in the prothrombin time. The activated par...