ABSTRACT:The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the impact of selenium supplementation on white blood cell parameters in the blood of ewes. The total white blood cell (WBC) and differentiation of leukocytes in blood smear were detected by a microscopic analysis, and the CD4 + and CD8 + subsets were detected by flow cytometry.A decrease in the count of WBC was recorded during pregnancy; it was statistically significant only in the group supplemented with organic selenium. In the postpartal period there was a statistically significant increase in the percentages of CD4 + and CD8 + subsets but differences between the groups were not statistically significant. The results of the experiment documented that the supplementation of different forms of selenium did not markedly influence the dynamics of blood parameters in non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating ewes if the intake of vitamins and other essential microelements was adequate.
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementation of ewes with selenium in an inorganic and organic form on the level of IgG during infertility, pregnancy and lactation and in their offspring until two months of age. Control Group C (<I>n</I> = 5) was without Se supplementation. Experimental groups: E1 (<I>n</I> = 5) was supplemented with 180 μg Na<sub>2</sub>SeO<sub>3</sub> per ewe/day, E2 (<I>n</I> = 5) received 180 μ Se per ewe/day organically bound in the biomass of an alga of the genus <I>Chlorella</I>. The average number of newborn lambs per lambing ewe was 1.0, 1.0 and 1.8 in Group C, E1 and E2, respectively. The supplementation did not influence either weight or growth of lambs. The content of IgG increased significantly in ewes in the last third of pregnancy regardless of Se supplementation while their postpartal decrease (<I>P</I> < 0.01) followed only in Group C. Lambs in Group C had a significantly lower level of IgG on Day 30 (<I>P</I> < 0.05) and 60 (<I>P</I> < 0.01) after birth especially in comparison with Group E2. The results document a lower level of immunity in the postpartal period of lambing ewes without Se supplementation and enhancement of postnatal proteosynthesis in the offspring of lambing ewes supplemented with the organic form of Se.
The effect of selenium supplementation in inorganic and organic form was investigated in three five-member groups of ewes and their lambs in the course of 7 months. The basal feed ration contained 55 µg Se, ewes of experimental group E1 received a supplement of 180 µg Se in sodium selenite, and ewes of experimental group E2 were applied a supplement of 180 µg selenium bound in the biomass of the alga Chlorella. Control group C did not receive any selenium. The ewes were in the stage of non pregnant, pregnancy and lactation during the experiment. Average contents of Se in the blood serum of ewes were as follows: E1 114.2 ± 23.6; E2 103.1 ± 20.3; C 68.6 ± 16.8 µg/l (<i>P</i> < 0.001). A decrease in serum Se was recorded in all groups in the last third of pregnancy and in the first week post partum. Average contents of urinary selenium contents were also higher in experimental groups: E1 25.4 ± 13.5; E2 18.7 ± 9.6; C 13.3 ± 4.5 µg/l (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The positive effect of supplementation of Se to ewes was reflected in its higher average concentration in the blood serum of born lambs: E1 48.5 ± 7.3; E2 53.5 ± 3.4; C 30.3 ± 7.4 µg/l (<i>P</i> < 0.05). The effect of selenium bound in Chlorella biomass was higher and persisted until 30 days of lamb age: E1 52.9 ± 3.4; E2 59.0 ± 7.0; C 35.5 ±5.8 µg/l (<i>P</i> < 0.01). The average number of lambs born per ewe was 1.0 in group C and E1, and 1.8 in group E2.
The effect of supplementation of selenium inorganic and organic forms on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was investigated for 7–8 months in three groups of ewes (by five animals each) and in born lambs. The basal feed ration contained 55 μg Se, the ewes of experimental group E1 received a supplement of 180 μg Se in sodium selenite, and the ewes of experimental group E2 were administered a supplement of 180 μg selenium bound in the biomass of the alga <I>Chlorella</I>. Control group C was without selenium supplement. The ewes were in the stage of non-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation during the experiment. The average number of lambs born per ewe was 1.0 in groups C and E1 and 1.8 in group E2. Both forms of selenium supplementation resulted in higher activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood, higher content of Se in the blood serum (<I>P</I> < 0.001) and milk of ewes (<I>P</I> < 0.001). Average activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood of ewes was as follows: C 697.9 ± 179.3; E1 1 147.4 ± 181.5; E2 1 056.1 ± 267.5 U/g Hb (<I>P</I> < 0.001). It reached the highest values in the 5<sup>th</sup> to 6<sup>th</sup> month of Se supplementation while the activity decreased after parturition in connection with lactation. Higher utilisation of Se from the organic form, compared to the inorganic form, was reflected in a higher content of Se in the milk of group E2 ewes (<I>P</I> < 0.05). The positive effect of selenium supplementation of ewes contributed to higher activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood of their lambs (<I>P</I> < 0.001) and higher Se concentration in the blood serum (<I>P</I> < 0.01). The organic form of Se (group E2) was more efficient in this case. Average activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood of lambs was as follows: C 434.1 ± 70.6; E1 1 031.6 ± 172.3 and E2 1 055.6 ± 235.1 U/g Hb.
The aim of this work was to determine the impact of high selenium intake on pregnant ewes considering the number of leukocytes and the representation of T cell subsets in the blood of newborn lambs. An experiment was conducted on nineteen sucking newborn lambs of the Sumava sheep breed. The ewes were divided into three groups of five animals: control C (without Se supplementation), experimental E1 (sodium selenite supplementation, Se content 160 μg.kg-1 DM) and E2 (Chlorella as a carrier for selenium, Se content 160 μg.kg-1 DM). After birth blood samples were taken from lambs on days 1, 3, 10, 30 and 60. The WBC count and proportion of lymphocytes in blood smear were detected by microscopic analysis, and the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in blood were detected by flow cytometry. The differences determined were not statistically significant due to high variabilities within the groups. In lambs whose mothers were supplemented with selenium bound to the alga of the genus Chlorella a statistically significant increase in the proportion of both subsets of T lymphocytes was proved. The results document a tendency to a lower level of the selected parameters of immunity in lambs without Se supplementation.
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