Comparative Effects of Laparotomy and Laparoscopy‐Assisted Embryo Transfer on Oxidative Stress and Thiol–Disulphide Homeostasis in Tuj Ewes

OBJECTIVES: In this study, it was aimed to compare the effects of embryo transfer performed via laparotomy and laparoscopy on thiol-disulphide homeostasis and some oxidative stress markers in Tuj ewes. METHODS: In the study, 10 Tuj ewes were randomly divided into two groups (laparotomy, n = 5; laparoscopy, n = 5). A progesterone-based synchronization protocol was applied to all animals. Blood samples were collected immediately before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Serum levels of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulphide (Ds) and thiol-disulphide ratios were determined. RESULTS: Group, time, and group × time interactions were found to be statistically significant for GSH, MDA, TT, and NT parameters (p < 0.05). In the laparotomy group, GSH, TT, and NT levels markedly decreased during the postoperative period (p < 0.05), whereas MDA levels showed a significant increase, particularly at 48 h (p < 0.05). In the laparoscopy group, changes in oxidative stress markers were found to be more limited. Although no significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of disulphide levels and thiol-disulphide ratios (p > 0.05), time-dependent changes in these parameters were statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the laparotomy group, significant negative correlations were detected between MDA and antioxidant parameters (p < 0.05), while strong positive correlations were observed among thiol parameters (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, it was concluded that the surgical approach used in embryo transfer affects the systemic oxidative stress response and that thiol-disulphide homeostasis can be considered a sensitive biomarker for revealing these differences. It was determined that the laparoscopic embryo transfer method disrupts redox balance to a lesser extent and better preserves the antioxidant defence system compared with laparotomy.