Effect of prepartum vitamin E and selenium administration on postpartum gene expression and metabolic profile of immune and oxidative markers in Barki ewes

Abstract

The present study aimed at evaluating the influence of administration of vitamin E and selenium (VE/Se) on the gene expression pattern of some immune-metabolic variables as well as the oxidative stress markers in Barki ewes during the transition period. Sixty clinically healthy Barki ewes were studied. Two weeks prior to lambing, the investigated ewes were allocated into three equal-sized groups and assigned to receive one of the following supplements: (G1) received sterile saline solution (0.9 % NaCl) and considered as a control group; (G2) received a single intramuscular injection of VE/Se at a dose of 6.66 IU/kg BW VE, and 0.133 mg/kg BW Se; while G3 received the same dose of VE/Se but repeated at the time of lambing. Blood samples were collected from each ewe at the following time points: two weeks before lambing (-14), at time of lambing (0), and two weeks following the date of lambing (+14), for molecular and biochemical analyses. Our findings demonstrated that VE/Se supplementation had improved the gene expression of interleukin (IL)5, IL6, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), toll interacting rotein (Tollip), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase (CAT), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACACA), fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1(SCD). A moderate degree of negative energy balance was seen at the time of lambing and two weeks later as evidenced by the values of metabolic variables including glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and cholesterol levels. A repeated dose VE/Se supplementation provoked a significant effect on glucose, total cholesterol, NEFA, malondialdehyde (MDA), total anti-oxidant 674