Organic Selenium Increased Gilts Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Function, and Changed Intestinal Microbiota

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.

Comparative Efficacy of Fish Meal Replacement With Enzymatically Treated Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Immunity, Oxidative Capacity and Fecal Microbiota in Weaned Pigs

“…According to Spearman correlation analysis, the abundance of Parabacteroides was negatively correlated with SOD. In previous study, the abundance of Parabacteroides was found decreased when gilts were supplied with organic selenium, and the abundance of Parabacteroides inversely associated with antioxidant capacity ( 59 ). Megasphaera and Faecalibacterium enriched in ESBM2 also showed strong positive correlation with SOD in our study.…”

2-Hydroxy-4-Methylselenobutanoic Acid Promotes Follicle Development by Antioxidant Pathway

“…The concentrations of selenium in serum, tissue and feed samples were detected as previously described ( 18 ). Briefly, potassium borohydride and hydrochloric acid were used to reduce the hexavalent selenium in samples into hydrogen selenide in a hydrochloric acid medium.…”

Trace Element Selenium Effectively Alleviates Intestinal Diseases

“…Several inorganic and organic selenocompounds were metabolized to SeMet by intestinal microflora, and SeMet was incorporated into general bacterial proteins. The gut microflora accumulated SeMet-containing proteins that were available as an Se pool for the host animal [74,75].…”

“…Se deficiency is detrimental for the gut barrier function, inducing a disordered intestinal immune response in mice. Furthermore, it can decrease the levels of neuroactive substances, such as serotonin and melatonin, which are involved in the gut-brain axis [75,79]. Se is critical for the physiological functions of the brain with neuroprotective effects.…”