Background: There are very few studies on the synergy effects of biological antioxidant activity on selenium (Se) and sulfate. This study evaluated the effect of selenide chitosan sulfate (LS-COS-Se) on the hepatocytes activity, growth performance, and anti-oxidation ability by activating the thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) system of specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens in vitro and in vivo.
Methods: The hepatocytes were obtained in vitro and a total of 240 SPF White Leghorns chickens (7 days of age and body weight of 45.0 ± 2.0 g) were collected in vivo. The hepatocytes and chickens were randomly allocated into six treatment groups: control group; chitosan (COS) group; sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) group; selenide chitosan (COS-Se) group; chitosan sulfate (LS-COS) group; LS-COS-Se group. After 24 h, the culture medium and hepatocytes were collected and preserved respectively for analyzing the metabolic activity of hepatocytes. Gowth performance was evaluated and chickens were euthanized to obtain plasma and liver tissue to measure antioxidant associated parameter on days 14 and 28.
Results: The experiment in vitro showed that the activities of TrxR, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) in culture medium and the levels of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR-1) and thioredoxin reductase 3 (TrxR-3) mRNA in hepatocytes in LS-COS-Se group were significantly higher (P < 0.05), but the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) than those in control, COS and LS-COS groups. Compared with Na2SeO3 and COS-Se groups, the levels of TrxR-1 and TrxR-3 mRNA in hepatocytes and the activity of SOD in culture medium significantly increased in LS-COS-Se group (P < 0.05). The experiment in vivo showed that the baby weight on 14d and 28d, the activities of TrxR, SOD and anti-superoxide anion radical (AntiO2-) in plasma and the levels of TrxR-1 and TrxR-3 mRNA in liver of dietary supplementation with LS-COS-Se were significantly higher than those in control, COS and LS-COS groups (P < 0.05). The activities of TrxR and SOD in plasma of dietary supplementation with LS-COS-Se were significantly higher than those of Na2SeO3 group and COS-Se group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: LS-COS-Se as potential antioxidant improved the hepatocytes activity, growth performance, and anti-oxidation ability by activating the TrxR system of SPF chickens in vitro and in vivo. The better biological activity of LS-COS-Se was mainly due to the synergistic effect of Se and sulfate on TrxR system.