Association between glutathione, haemoglobin and transferrin in finnsheep

Haemoglobin (Hb) and transferrin (Tf) types were determined in 760 Finnsheep and correlated with the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels of packed erythrocytes. The gene frequencies of the two haemoglobin alleles A and B were: HbA = 0.748 and HbB = 0.252. Five transferrin alleles were found: A, B, C, D and E, with gene frequencies of 0.056, 0.226, 0.620, 0.075 and 0.023, respectively. The Hb B group had significantly higher GSH levels and lower haematocrit values than heterozygotes (Hb AB) and homozygote (Hb AA). There was no significant difference in GSH concentration among the haemoglobin types in lambs. Erythrocyte glutathione levels of Tf BC ewes were significantly higher than the levels in sheep with other transferrin types, whereas young lambs of Tf AB types had the highest GSH levels. The significance of these findings is discussed.