Association between Serum Trace Elements Levels, Steroid Concentrations, and Reproductive Disorders in Ewes and Does

Table 1

Manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), ferrous (Fe), and zinc (Zn) serum levels in ewes with various reproductive disorders compared with control.

Reproductive status	n	Mn (mg/L)	Se (mg/L)	Fe (mg/L)	Zn (mg/L)
Control	11	2.99 ± 0.75^a	0.62 ± 0.08^a	7.91 ± 1.95^a	9.15 ± 0.63^a
Endometritis	98	2.39 ± 0.35^a	0.37 ± 0.05^a	5.01 ± 0.71^a	3.31 ± 0.49^a
Inactive ovaries	12	5.15 ± 0.63^a	0.14 ± 0.09^c	5.84 ± 1.14^a	3.01 ± 0.18^a
Hydrometra	7	4.18 ± 0.62^a	0.35 ± 0.06^a	6.37 ± 1.79^a	4.35 ± 0.33^a
Pyometra	8	5.86 ± 0.29^a	0.89 ± 0.09^a	9.64 ± 0.99^a	9.11 ± 1.05^a
Cystic ovaries	6	2.85 ± 0.69^a	1.21 ± 0.37^b	17.64 ± 4.21^b	13.02 ± 1.04^b

Values are in means ± standard error. Different superscript letters in columns are given for significantly different values ().