Antioxidant Systems in Poultry Biology: Superoxide Dismutase

Abstract

Commercial poultry production is associated with various stresses responsible for decreasing productive and reproductive performance of growing chicks, breeders and commercial layers. A growing body of evidence shows that most of stresses in poultry production at the cellular level are associated with oxidative stress. Recently, a concept of the cellular antioxidant defense has been revised with special attention paid to cellular redox status maintenance and cell signaling. In fact, antioxidant systems of the living cell are based on three major levels of defense and superoxide dismutase (SOD) is shown to belong to the first level of the antioxidant defense network. Cellular antioxidant defenses are shown to include several options and vitagene activation in stress conditions is considered as a fundamental adaptive mechanism. The vitagene family includes various genes regulating synthesis of protective molecules including thioredoxins, sirtuins, heat shock proteins and SOD. However, by the time of writing no comprehensive review on the roles and effects of SOD in poultry biology has appeared. Therefore, the aim of this review is a critical analysis of the role of SOD in poultry biology with specific emphasis to its functions as an essential part of the vitagene network. From the analysis of the recent data related to SOD in poultry physiology and adaptation to stresses it is possible to conclude that: a) SOD as important vitagene is the main driving force in cell/body adaptation to various stress conditions. Indeed, in stress conditions additional synthesis of SOD is an adaptive mechanism to decrease ROS formation; b) If the stress is too high SOD activity is decreased and apoptosis is activated; c) there are tissue-specific differences in SOD expression which also depends on the strength of such stress-factors as heat, heavy metals, mycotoxins and other stressors; d) SOD is shown to provide an effective protection against lipid peroxidation in chicken embryonic tissues and semen; e) SOD is shown to be protective in heat and cold stress, toxicity stress as well as in other oxidative-stress related conditions in poultry production; f) there are complex interactions inside the antioxidant network of the cell/body to ensure an effective maintenance of homeostasis in stress conditions. Indeed, in many cases, nutritional antioxidants (vitamin E, selenium, carotenoids, phytochemicals, etc.) in the feed can increase SOD expression; g) nutritional means of SOD upregulation in stress conditions of poultry production and physiological and commercial consequences await further investigation; h) vitagene upregulation in stress conditions is emerging as an effective means for stress management.

Supplementation of Vitamin E Protects Chickens from Newcastle Disease Virus-Mediated Exacerbation of Intestinal Oxidative Stress and Tissue Damage

“…Particularly, GST catalyses the conjugation of GSH to a variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic compounds [41]. The SOD is an important enzyme involved in the oxidative stress and provides protection against lipid peroxidation [42]. Catalase is an iron containing enzyme which catalyses the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, a harmful agent for the cells.…”

Effect of dietary l‐carnitine supplementation and energy level on oxidant/antioxidant balance in laying hens subjected to high stocking density

“…Among these factors, high stocking density is considered as an important stress factor which has critical implications for the poultry industry (Puron, Santamaria, Segura, & Alamilla, 1995). It is suggested that most of stresses in poultry production at the cellular level are associated with oxidative stress due to excess of free radical production or inadequate antioxidant protection (Surai, 2016). An inadequate physical and social environment can be a source of discomfort and stress (Morgan & Tromborg, 2007).…”

Antioxidant activity of vitamin e and its role in avian reproduction

“…All living cells including spermatozoa regularly face the oxygen paradox. The oxygen is necessary for maintaining life; nevertheless, its metabolites, such as ROS, must be neutralized constantly to support the small amount essential for physiological cell function (Niki, 2014;Surai, 2016). The spermatozoa PUFAs are extremely susceptible to lipid peroxidation, as a result, ROS are produced in high quantity, which are harmful to the fertilizing capability of semen (Agarwal et al, 2003).…”

“…The spermatozoa PUFAs are extremely susceptible to lipid peroxidation, as a result, ROS are produced in high quantity, which are harmful to the fertilizing capability of semen (Agarwal et al, 2003). Due to an increased production of ROS, oxidative stress, which is the imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants happens (Agarwal et al, 2003;Urso & Clarkson, 2003;Surai, 2016).…”

“…In modern poultry production is associated with various stress conditions that are responsible of a decrease in productive and reproductive traits of young poultry, breeders and layers (Celi et al, 2014;Surai, 2016).…”