Abstract
Selenium is an indispensable essential micronutrient for humans and animals, and it can affect biological functions by combining into selenoproteins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA) on the antioxidant performance, immune function, and intestinal microbiota composition of gilts. From weaning to the 19th day after the second estrus, 36 gilts (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were assigned to three treatments: control group, sodium selenite group (0.3 mg Se/kg Na2SeO3), and HMSeBA group (0.3 mg Se/kg HMSeBA). Dietary supplementation with HMSeBA improved the gilts tissue selenium content (except in the thymus) and selenoprotein P (SelP1) concentration when compared to the Na2SeO3 or control group. Compared with the control group, the antioxidant enzyme activity in the tissues from gilts in the HMSeBA group was increased, and the concentration of malondialdehyde in the colon had a decreasing trend (p = 0.07). Gilts in the HMSeBA supplemented group had upregulated gene expression of GPX2, GPX4, and SelX in spleen tissue, TrxR1 in thymus; GPX1 and SelX in duodenum, GPX3 and SEPHS2 in jejunum, and GPX1 in the ileum tissues (p < 0.05). In addition, compared with the control group, the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the liver, spleen, thymus, duodenum, ileum, and jejunum of gilts in the HMSeBA group were downregulated (p < 0.05), while the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the liver, thymus, jejunum, and ileum were upregulated (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group and the Na2SeO3 group, HMSeBA had increased concentration of serum cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and immunoglobulin G (IgG; p < 0.05), increased concentration of intestinal immunoglobulin A (sIgA; p < 0.05), and decreased concentration of serum IL-6 (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with HMSeBA also increased the abundance of intestinal bacteria (Ruminococcaceae and Phascolarctobacterium; p < 0.05) and selectively inhibited the abundance of some bacteria (Parabacteroides and Prevotellaceae; p < 0.05). In short, HMSeBA improves the antioxidant performance and immune function of gilts, and changed the structure of the intestinal microflora. And this study provided data support for the application of HMSeBA in gilt and even pig production.
Highlights
As an essential micronutrient, selenium plays an important biological role in animals and human body by participating in the composition of selenocysteine and selenoprotein (Schwarz and Fredga, 1969)
The results showed that adding hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA) to the basal diet of gilts significantly increased the total selenium content in the
There was no difference in total selenium content in thymus between the Na2SeO3 group and HMSeBA group compared with the control group (Table 4)
Summary
Selenium plays an important biological role in animals and human body by participating in the composition of selenocysteine and selenoprotein (Schwarz and Fredga, 1969). Selenium is known to be the main component of 25 selenoproteins, most of which have antioxidant and immune functions (Schrauzer and Gerhard, 2000). Due to many selenoproteins having antioxidant activity, selenium has long been considered to protect the body and intestine from inflammation by reducing oxidative damage. Selenium is an important component of glutathione peroxidase (GPH-Px) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) in animals, and plays an important role in antioxidation and immunity (Stadtman, 1996; Costello, 2001; Hawkes and Alkan, 2010). Adding selenium and selenium products to the basic diet of animals can promote growth, improve immune function, and reduce oxidative stress (Cao et al, 2015). Adding selenium to the basic diet of animals can improve immune function and change the intestinal microflora
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