COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF DEXAMETHASONE ON PLASMA GLUCOSE AND LIPID PROFILES IN PREGNANT YANKASA SHEEP AND SAHEL GOATS IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA -

Dexamethasone is synthetic glucocorticoid that has wide application in veterinary and human medicine. It is intimately involved in regulating both glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Nonetheless dexamethasone has a potential for atherogenic effect, given that they cause dyslipidemia. However, species difference and physiological status in response to medication exist. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effects of dexamethasone on lipid profiles in pregnant yankasa sheep and Sahel goats. Thirteen apparently healthy adult Sahel goats comprising 12 does and 1 buck and 13 yankasa sheep comprising of twelve ewes and one ram were used for this study. The animals were synchronized using cloprostenol and pregnancies were achieved through natural mating. They were treated with dexamethasone injection at 0.25mg/kg body weight on days 1, 3 and 5 during first trimester; day 51, 53 and 55 during second trimester, and day 101, 103 and 105 during the third trimester. Blood samples were collected biweekly for 5 months and were used for the analysis of plasma glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Dexamethasone significantly increased plasma glucose concentrations in both pregnant sheep and goats compared to their respective control groups. On the other hand, prenatal dexamethasone had no discernible effect on serum TG, TC and lipoprotein fractions. It was concluded that dexamethasone treatment during pregnancy improves glucose metabolism during pregnancy in yankasa sheep and Sahel goats but had no effect on serum lipid profiles. Therefore dexamethasone may be given in lower doses to alleviate gestational hypoglycaemia commonly reported in late pregnancy in sheep and goats.