Vitamin E and Selenium Supplementation Reduces Plasma Cortisol and Oxidative Stress in Dystocia-Affected Buffaloes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate oxidative stress around parturition in normally calved and dystocia-affected buffaloes and the clinical efficacy of vitamin E and selenium (Se) in reducing the effects in buffaloes suffering from dystocia. Plasma cortisol concentration, erythrocytic malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were evaluated in dystocia-affected (supplemented (n = 8) and unsupplemented (n = 5) with vitamin E and Se) and normally calved (unsupplemented; n = 6) buffaloes. The decline in plasma cortisol concentration, MDA level and SOD activity was greater in the group of dystocia-affected buffaloes supplemented with vitamin E and Se (78.62 +/- 2.7%, 13.38 +/- 9.75% and 28.83 +/- 7.72%, respectively) than in the unsupplemented group (54.33 +/- 12.62%, 3.48 +/- 4.16% and 17.69 +/- 12.93%, respectively). These results suggests that supplementation with antioxidants like vitamin E and Se may be beneficial in reducing oxidative stress in dystocia-affected buffaloes in the immediate postpartum period.

Effects of selenium and vitamin E on performance, physiological response, and selenium balance in heat-stressed sheep1

“…Their protective effects involve all 3 types of antioxidant defense systems in animal cells: 1) prevention of radical formation, 2) prevention and restriction of chain formation and propagation, and 3) excision and repair of damaged parts of molecules (Surai, 2006). The improvement in TAS observed in the current study when sheep were supplemented with Se, vitamin E, or both for 50 d is similar to results obtained by Sathya et al (2007) showing a reduction in plasma concentrations of lipid peroxidation products in buffaloes after injection of Se (30 mg) and vitamin E (1,000 mg). Similarly, dairy cows subjected to moderate heat stress (THI 72-78) and supplemented with Se had lower plasma concentrations of reactive oxygen species than nonsupplemented cows subjected to the same heat stress (Calamari et al, 2011).…”

Oxidant and antioxidant profile of hyperketonemic ewes affected by pregnancy toxemia

“…Positive correlation between BHB and cortisol concentrations and between serum cortisol and TBARS in pregnancy suggests that cortisol and BHB may play a role in induction of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in ewes with higher concentrations of ketones. Similar results are reported in cows with subclinical ketosis 15 and in buffaloes affected with dystocia 30 …”

Effect of therapeutic ultrasound and diathermy on oxidant–antioxidant balance in dogs suffering from hind quarter weakness

“…Increase in SOD activity might be attributed to up-regulation in its synthesis to counteract free radicals. The increase in SOD level in the present study was in agreement with the findings of Sathya et al (2007) in dystocia affected buffalo and Dimri et al (2008a) in canine demodicosis. On day 0, the erythrocytes' CAT level was significantly (P B0.05) lower in all the dogs with HQW as compared to the healthy control.…”