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P F Surai

Publications and source records attributed to P F Surai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

An analysis of pre- and post-hatching maternal effects mediated by carotenoids in the blue tit.

Maternal effects increase phenotypic plasticity in offspring traits and may therefore facilitate adaptation to environmental variability. Carotenoids have been hypothesized to mediate costs of reproduction in females as well as maternal effects. However, assessing potential transgenerational and population consequences of environmental availability of carotenoids requires a better understanding of mechanisms of maternal effects mediated by these antioxidant pigments. Manipulating dietary availability of carotenoids to egg-laying female blue tits and subsequently cross-fostering nestlings between female treatments allowed us to specifically investigate the relative importance of maternal effects through egg carotenoids and through post-hatching care mediated by antioxidants in females. Nestling body size and mass and plasma antioxidants were not significantly affected by pre- or post-hatching maternal effects mediated by antioxidants, although both types of maternal effects in interaction explained the variation in growth, as measured by wing length. Development of the ability to mount a cell-mediated immune response as well as its temporal dynamics was influenced by both pre- and post-hatching maternal effects, with an advantage to nestlings originating from, or reared by, carotenoid-supplemented females. In addition, nestlings reared by carotenoid-fed females had a lower blood sedimentation rate, indicating that they may have been less infected than nestlings from controls. Finally, prehatching maternal effects in interaction with nestling plasma carotenoid levels affected the development of carotenoid-based plumage. Maternal effects mediated by carotenoids may thus act as a proximate factor in development and phenotypic plasticity in traits associated with nestling fitness, such as immune response and ability to metabolize and use antioxidants, and ultimately participate in the evolution of phenotypic traits.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effect of organic selenium on turkey semen quality during liquid storage.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary organic selenium on the turkey semen during storage. Twenty males (BUT, Big 6, 40 weeks of age) were divided into control (n=10) and experimental group (n=10). The turkeys in the both groups were fed with a commercial diet containing 0.1 ppm Se in the form of sodium selenite. The experimental birds were additionally supplied with 0.3 ppm organic Se in the form Sel-Plex (Alltech, Inc.). After 30 days of feeding, the semen samples were collected twice a week for the 3 weeks of the study and diluted 1+1(v/v) with TUR-2 diluent, and stored in a water bath (+10 to 15 degrees C) for 6 h. The percentage of motile spermatozoa, the sperm viability (live/dead spermatozoa), total lipids, phospholipids and total cholesterol were assessed in fresh and stored semen. The fertilizing ability of semen was assessed by artificial insemination of 30 hens per group with dose containing 200x10(6) spermatozoa weekly. After 6 h of semen storage, the motility of spermatozoa decreased significantly in the control group (by 8.7 relative percent, P<0.05) and only by four relative percent (P>0.05) in experimental group reflecting a protective effect of dietary Se supplementation. The proportion of live spermatozoa was higher in fresh semen and significantly lower in stored semen. The positive effect of Se supplementation was observed on the lipid composition of stored semen: the concentration of the total lipids and phospholipids in the seminal plasma from control group significantly increased, while in the experimental group remained constant. Better semen integrity in the experimental group was associated with an improved fertilizing ability of spermatozoa: the fertility rate of stored spermatozoa in the control group was 88%, while in the experimental group was 90.5%.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Effect of organic selenium in quail diet on its accumulation in tissues and transfer to the progeny.

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects on the eggs and hatchlings (up to 2 weeks post-hatch) of feeding a relatively large amount of so-called organic selenium to breeder quail. 2. Two groups of quail (3 families in each group consisting of 4 females and 1 male) were formed at the beginning of their reproductive period. The quail were fed on a commercial maize-based diet containing 0.096 mg/kg feed-derived selenium (Se), supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg selenite (control group) or 0.5 mg/kg organic selenium in the form of Sel-Plex (Alltech Ltd, USA) for 6 months. Eggs were collected at 6 months of age and Se in the egg yolk, egg white and shell was analysed. Five quail at 1, 7 and 14 d post-hatch were killed to provide samples of liver, brain, breast and leg muscles for Se analysis. After egg collection for analysis and incubation, adult quail were killed and liver, kidney, lung, brain, breast and leg muscles were collected for Se analyses. 3. Inclusion of high doses (0.5 mg/kg) of organic Se in the quail diet was associated with a significant increase in Se concentration in all tissues studied of adult quail as well as in egg yolk, egg albumin and eggshell. 4. Increased Se concentration in the quail egg was associated with increased Se concentration in the liver, breast and leg muscles and brain of newly hatched quail. This difference was shown to be significant for 2 weeks post-hatch. Therefore, it has been suggested that the maternal effect of dietary selenium can be seen beyond the hatching time and more emphasis should be given to this effect in future. 5. It was shown that it is possible to produce Se-enriched quail meat and eggs by adding organic selenium to the diet.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

Effects of carotenoids from lucerne, marigold and tomato on egg yolk pigmentation and carotenoid composition.

1. The effects of various sources of natural carotenoids (Px alfalfa concentrate, tomato powder and marigold extract) as feed additives in quail diets on egg yolk pigmentation and carotenoid composition were investigated. 2. Adult Japanese quail were fed one of 5 different diets for 23 d: three diets each contained Px alfalfa concentrate (PX) or tomato powder (TP) or marigold extract (MG), one diet contained marigold extract and tomato powder (MG + TP) and a control diet (wheat/barley based) was low in carotenoid. All products were added at a rate of 2%, apart from marigold extract which was added at a rate of 0.2%. 3. Visual assessment of yolk colour (Roche colour fan) showed a stabilised yolk colour of 1.6, 7.7, 8.5, 8.8 and 10.6 for the control, PX, TP, MG and MG + TP treatments, respectively. 4. The total carotenoid concentration of the egg yolks were 2.2, 22.4, 4.1, 39.0 and 37.7 microg/g for the experimental groups fed the following diets: control, PX, TP, MG and MG + TP, respectively. Deposition of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol in the egg yolk was unaffected by treatments. 5. Lutein was shown to be the major carotenoid in the egg yolk, comprising 1.65, 17.97, 2.03, 31.14 and 28.57 microg/g in control, PX, TP, MG and MG + TP, respectively. Inclusion of TP in the quail diet resulted in lycopene transfer to the egg. 6. It was concluded that, in comparison with the control group, there was an increase in the yolk concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene in eggs produced by female quail fed diets supplemented with natural carotenoids.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Effects of supplementing broiler breeder diets with organoselenium compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids on hatchability.

The effects of supplementing broiler breeder diets with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and organoselenium compounds on fertility, hatchability, and the weight of 1-d-old chicks was assessed. Prepeak (23 wk) and peak (27 wk) production breeders were fed 1 of 4 diets: a wheat-based commercial breeder diet with 55 g/kg of either soybean oil (SO) or fish oil (FO), but no added Se (only that originating from feed ingredients), and each diet with added Se as Sel-Plex (SO + Se, FO + Se). The diets were designed to contain <0.1 mg/kg of Se and about 0.5 mg/kg of Se for the nonsupplemented (no added Se) and the supplemented diets, respectively. The Se concentration of the eggshell of the hatching egg was measured. The concentration of Se, PUFA, and total lipid content of the brain and liver of the 1-d-old chick was determined. The number of fertile eggs increased, embryonic mortality decreased, and hatchability increased as hen age increased from 23 to 27 wk. The Se concentration in the eggshell and the brain and liver of 1-d-old chicks was higher in the high-Se treatments com pared with the concentration in the low-Se treatments. Fish oil inclusion in the breeder diet increased embryonic mortality in wk 3 of incubation and reduced both hatchability and 1-d-old chick weight in hens of both ages. The addition of Se to the FO diets ameliorated some of these adverse effects, because chicks hatched from eggs laid by 23-wk-old breeders of the FO + Se treatment were heavier than those receiving the FO treatment. The Se concentration in the brain and liver of chicks from the FO hens was higher than that in chicks from the SO hens. The concentration of docosahexaenoic fatty acid was higher in the liver of chicks from the SO + Se treatment compared with that of chicks from the SO treatment, indicating possible protective effects of Se. Hatchability was decreased by increased PUFA and was higher in 27-wk-old compared with 23-wk-old breeders.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Maternal organo-selenium compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids affect progeny performance and levels of selenium and docosahexaenoic acid in the chick tissues.

The effects of supplementing broiler breeder diets with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and organo-Se compounds on the levels of Se and PUFA in chick tissues and on chick performance were assessed. Prepeak (23 wk) and peak (27 wk) production broiler breeders were fed 1 of 4 diets: a wheat-based commercial diet with soybean oil or fish oil but no added Se, and each diet with added Se as Sel-Plex (soybean oil + Se, fish oil + Se; Alltech Inc, Nicholasville, KY). The diets were designed to contain less than 0.1 mg of Se/kg and about 0.5 mg/kg for the nonsupplemented and the supplemented diets, respectively. As-hatched chicks from the 4 parental treatments were fed a nutritionally high quality diet (ME = 12.57 MJ/kg; CP = 228.7 g/kg) or a low quality diet (ME = 10.28 MJ/kg; CP = 182.8 g/kg), resulting in 8 dietary treatments. Performance was better and mortality lower in chicks from 27-wk-old breeders compared with those from 23-wk-old breeders. Fish oil in the maternal diet increased progeny mortality and reduced chick body mass at hatch. Body mass at 7 and 14 d posthatch was lower in chicks fed the low quality diet compared with chicks fed the high quality diet. At hatch, and for up to 14 d posthatch, chicks from hens fed diets high in PUFA had higher concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the brain and liver compared with chicks hatched from hens fed diets low in PUFA. The DHA content of the tissues of chicks from breeders fed diets supplemented with Se was higher than that in chicks from breeders fed unsupplemented diets. Even after 14 d of being fed a diet with identical levels of Se, chicks hatched from parents fed diets high in Se had higher tissue Se concentrations than those hatched from parents fed diets low in Se. Supplementation of the maternal diet of chicks with organo-Se appears to enhance the DHA concentration of the chick brain, which may improve brain function.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2005

Dietary fish and evening primrose oil with vitamin E effects on semen variables in cockerels.

Our aim was to determine the effect of n-3 (2%, wt/wt, fish oil rich diet) and n-6 (2%, wt/wt, evening primrose oil rich diet) fatty acid dietary supplementation and their combination with two concentrations of vitamin E (40 vs 200 mg/kg) on semen variables and on fatty acid and vitamin E profiles of spermatozoa in broiler breeders at 32, 42 and 52 weeks of age. The inclusion of fish oil in the cockerel diets increased the docosahexaenoic acid proportion in the sperm phospholipid fraction, which was almost threefold higher compared to the other two groups irrespective of vitamin E supplementation. In contrast, an increase in the proportion of total n-6 polyunsaturates, mainly 22:4n-6, was observed in the evening primrose oil group compared to the control only when the dietary content of vitamin E was increased to 200 mg/kg. Sperm concentration was decreased in the fish and evening primrose oil groups if vitamin E was 40 mg/kg, but such an effect was prevented in the fish, not the evening primrose oil group, by increasing the vitamin E to 200 mg. The proportion of motile spermatozoa was improved by the increased supplementation of vitamin E in all oil treatments.

Aging↗
PubMed2005

Effects of supplementing broiler breeder diets with organic selenium and polyunsaturated fatty acids on egg quality during storage.

We assessed the effects of supplementation of broiler breeder diets with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and organic Se on hatching egg quality during storage. Broiler breeders (n = 352) were fed 1 of 4 diets: SO (soybean oil with no added Se), SO with Se (SO+Se), fish oil (FO), or FO and Se (FO+Se). Eggs from prepeak (23 wk) and peak production (27 wk) breeders were stored for 14 d under typical (15 degrees C, 78% RH) conditions. Eggs were analyzed for albumen Haugh units (HU) and pH, shell characteristics, egg component weight, Se content, and fatty acid (FA) profile. The efficiency of transfer of Se into the egg was greater in low Se treatments compared with in high Se treatments. The majority of Se from the low Se treatments was deposited in the yolk, whereas in high Se treatments, the Se was deposited evenly in the yolk and albumen. In the low Se treatments, the Se content of yolk and albumen was lower than in the high Se treatments and decreased as age increased. Albumen HU decreased with increased storage, although high Se treatments had greater HU compared with low Se treatments. Eggs from the FO treatment were smaller with thinner eggshells compared with the SO treatment, but addition of Se to the FO diets ameliorated some of these effects. The egg yolk FA profile from the SO+Se treatment was altered compared with that from the SO treatment, perhaps due to interactions between dietary PUFA and Se-dependent enzyme systems. Hatching egg quality during storage was affected by dietary PUFA and Se content, as well as broiler breeder age.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effect of canthaxanthin content of the maternal diet on the antioxidant system of the developing chick.

1. Effects of canthaxanthin supplementation of the maternal diet on the antioxidant system of the developing chick were investigated. 2. Three hundred and twenty female broiler breeder birds were housed in one of 4 controlled environment rooms with 3 replicates for all treatments, with the exception of the control treatment of which there were 4 replicates. All birds received one of 5 diets: control low xanthophyll diet, or the same diet supplemented with 3, 6, 12 or 24 mg/kg canthaxanthin in the form of Carophyll Red. At 30 weeks of age 60 eggs from each of the 5 groups were incubated. At d 16 of the embryo development, at d 1 and d 7 posthatch tissue samples were collected and analysed by HPLC-based methods. 3. Canthaxanthin accumulation in the egg yolk was proportional to dietary content. Furthermore, at 12 to 24 mg/kg canthaxanthin was associated with an increase in gamma-tocopherol concentration in the egg yolk. Canthaxanthin was transferred from the egg yolk to the developing embryo and, as a result, its concentration in the liver of the embryo at 16 and in 1-d-old chicks was increased. Even at d 7 posthatch canthaxanthin concentration in the chicken liver was elevated. 4. Canthaxanthin supplementation of the maternal diet at 12 mg/kg was associated with an increased alpha-tocopherol concentration in the liver of 1-d-old chicks and resulted in decreased tissue susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. 5. Canthaxanthin supplementation at 6 to 24 mg/kg was also associated with a delay in alpha-tocopherol depletion from the liver for 7-d posthatch. As a result of the increased canthaxanthin and vitamin E concentrations in the liver of 7-d-old chicks, tissue susceptibility to lipid peroxidation decreased. 6. The results support an idea that dietary carotenoids can modulate antioxidant systems of the developing chicken.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Carotenoid discrimination by the avian embryo: a lesson from wild birds.

The concentrations (microg/g wet yolk) of total carotenoids in eggs of the common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), American coot (Fulica americana) and lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), collected in the wild, were 47.5, 131.0 and 71.6, respectively. In contrast to data for eggs of the domestic chicken, beta-carotene was a significant component in the yolks of these three wild species, forming 25-29% by wt. of the total carotenoids present. The concentration of total carotenoids in the livers of the newly-hatched chicks was 5-10 times higher than in the other tissues and beta-carotene was again a major component, forming 37-58% of the hepatic carotenoids. In the newly-hatched gull, the proportions of both lutein and zeaxanthin were very low in the liver but high in the heart and muscle when compared with the yolk. By contrast canthaxanthin, echinenone and beta-carotene were very minor constituents of heart and muscle when compared with their proportions in the yolk of the gull. The proportions of lutein and zeaxanthin in the liver of the newly-hatched coot and moorhen were also far lower than in the yolk whereas the liver was relatively enriched with beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene and (in the moorhen) echinenone. The results indicate that avian embryos discriminate between different carotenoids during their distribution from the yolk to the various tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Comparative evaluation of the effect of two maternal diets on fatty acids, vitamin E and carotenoids in the chick embryo.

1. The fatty acid profile of egg yolk and vitamin E and carotenoid accumulation in the egg yolk and embryonic tissues were investigated in relation to the maternal diet. 2. Two hundred fertile eggs (Ross 308 Broiler Breeder), obtained from hens fed on a maize-based (M-diet) or a wheat-based diet (W-diet), were incubated using standard conditions. 3. The egg yolk and embryo tissues (residual yolk, yolk sac membrane, liver, kidney, lung, muscles, adipose tissue and plasma) were collected on d 18 of incubation and on d 21 (newly-hatched chicks) and analysed for fatty acids, vitamin E and carotenoids. 4. The diets did not differ in terms of fatty acid or alpha-tocopherol concentrations. The concentration of carotenoids in the M-diet was 11.8 mg/kg and in the W-diet was 5.6 mg/kg with lutein and zeaxanthin being major carotenoids. 5. Eggs from the M-group contained higher (P<0.01) concentrations of beta+gamma-tocopherols, total carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Chickens hatched from those eggs were characterised by the increased concentrations of total carotenoids and zeaxanthin in all the tissues studied. The concentration of beta+gamma-tocopherol was enhanced only in the liver and yolk sac membrane. 6. It is concluded that the maternal diet plays an important role in antioxidant systems formation during chick embryonic development; the M-diet can increase the antioxidant potential of the egg yolk and embryonic tissues compared to the antioxidant potential provided by parent birds fed the W-diet.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effect of the mycotoxin aurofusarin on the antioxidant composition and fatty acid profile of quail eggs.

1. The effect of the mycotoxin aurofusarin on the antioxidant composition and fatty acid profile of quail eggs was investigated. 2. Thirty eight 45-d-old Japanese quails were divided into two groups (experimental and control, 15 females +4 males in each group) and were fed on a maize-soya diet balanced in all nutrients. The diet of the experimental quails was supplemented with aurofusarin at the level of 26.4 mg/kg feed in the form of Fusarium graminearum culture enriched with aurofusarin. At the beginning and after 2, 4 and 8 week supplementation periods, eggs were collected and analysed. After 8 weeks of supplementation, experimental quails were fed on unsupplemented diet during the next 4 weeks and eggs were collected after 2 and 4 weeks on such a diet and analysed. 3. Aurofusarin caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in vitamins E, A, total carotenoid, lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations and significantly (P<0.05) increased egg yolk susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. During two weeks on the diet without aurofusarin the levels of carotenoids in the egg yolk returned to the initial level, vitamins A and E returned to the initial level during 4 weeks on the same unsupplemented diet. 4. Dietary supplementation with aurofusarin was associated with a significant (P<0.01) decrease in the docosahexaenoic acid proportion in the phospholipid, cholesteryl ester and free fatty acid fractions of the egg yolk. At the same time the proportion of linoleic acid in the phospholipid, free fatty acid and triacylglycerol fractions significantly (P<0.05) increased. 5. It is concluded that mycotoxin aurofusarin is detrimental to the nutritional quality of eggs.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Phospholipid fatty acid composition, vitamin E content and susceptibility to lipid peroxidation of duck spermatozoa.

Recent studies on chicken semen have suggested that the lipid and fatty acid composition of spermatozoa may be important determinants of fertility. Phospholipid fatty acid composition, vitamin E content and in vitro susceptibility to lipid peroxidation of duck spermatozoa were investigated using GC-MS and HPLC based methods. The total phospholipid fraction of duck spermatozoa was characterized by high proportions of the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic (20:4n-6), docosatetraenoic (22:4n-6) and docosapentaenoic (22:5n-6) acids but a substantial proportion of the n-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acid was also present. Palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) fatty acids were the major saturates in sperm phospholipids. Among the phospholipid classes, phosphatidylserine (PS) had the highest degree of unsaturation due to very high proportions of 22:6n-3, 22:5n-6, 22:4n-6 and 20:4n-6, comprising together more than 75% of total fatty acids in this fraction. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) also contained high proportions of these four C(20-22) polyunsaturates, which together formed 60% of total fatty acids in this phospholipid. Spermatozoa and seminal plasma of duck semen were characterized by unexpectedly low content of vitamin E, being more than 4-fold lower than in chicken semen. In duck semen the major proportion of the vitamin E (>70%) was located in the spermatozoa. The very high proportion of 22:6n-3 in PS and PE fractions of duck sperm lipids and the comparatively low levels of vitamin E could predispose semen to lipid peroxidation. Nevertheless the in vitro susceptibilities to Fe2+-stimulated lipid peroxidation of duck and chicken spermatozoa were very similar. The results of the study suggest that increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity and increased antioxidant activity of seminal plasma may compensate for the low levels of vitamin E to help protect the membranes of duck spermatozoa, which exhibit a high degree of unsaturation from oxidative stress.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Fatty acid, carotenoid and vitamin A composition of tissues of free living gulls.

The aim of this study was to investigate fatty acid and carotenoid profile as well as vitamin A (retinol and retinol esters) content in gull (Larus fucus) tissues. Palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) fatty acids were major saturates in all the tissues studied. Oleic acid (18:1n-9) was the major monounsaturate in the tissue phospholipids varying from 11.9% (liver) up to 18.2% (lung). Arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) was the major unsaturate in the phospholipid fraction in all the tissues. Liver contained the highest total carotenoid concentration which was 5 and 7 fold higher compared to kidney and pancreas. In the liver beta-carotene was major carotenoid. In contrast, in all other tissues beta-carotene was minor fraction with lutein being major carotenoid. Zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin and echinenone were also identified in the gull tissues. Liver and kidney were characterised by the highest vitamin A concentrations (1067.5 and 867.5 microg/g, respectively). Retinol comprised from 55.3% (pancreas) down to 8% (kidney) of the total vitamin A but was not detected in the abdominal fat. Retinyl palmitate was the major retinyl ester in the liver, kidney and heart (44.2; 38.1 and 46.0% of total retinyl esters). In muscles and abdominal fat retinyl stearate was the major retinyl ester fraction. Therefore high proportions of beta-carotene were found in gull liver and peripheral tissues were enriched by lutein and zeaxanthin compared to the liver, a very high concentration of retinyl esters in the kidney was observed and tissue-specificity in retinyl ester proportions in peripheral tissues was found.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Designer egg evaluation in a controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, selenium (Se) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to deliver micronutrients to the human in a palatable and visually acceptable form. DESIGN: Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, two treatment groups balanced for sex and age. SETTING: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, SAC, Scotland. SUBJECTS: Forty healthy adult volunteers completed the study. Volunteers were recruited among staff of the Scottish Agricultural College Interventions: Volunteers consumed, for 8 weeks, either a designer egg or a normal table egg per day. Fasting blood samples were taken before and at the end of the study. RESULTS: Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, Se and DHA significantly increased the levels of alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA in plasma as compared to the changes found after consumption of normal table eggs, with the largest increases found in plasma lutein (1.88-fold increase). The proportion of DHA was increased in all the main lipid classes of the plasma including triacylglycerol (2.3-fold), free fatty acids (1. 6-fold), cholesteryl ester (1.4-fold) and phospholipid (1.3-fold). Egg consumption did not change Se concentration in plasma, blood pressure, total plasma lipid concentrations or the concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in plasma. CONCLUSION: Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, DHA and Se as part of normal diet for 8 weeks effectively increased the blood levels of alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA. SPONSORSHIP: Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries Department.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of selenium and vitamin E content of the maternal diet on the antioxidant system of the yolk and the developing chick.

1. The effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation of the maternal diet on their transfer to the egg yolk and tissues of the newly hatched chick and on the development of the antioxidant system in the chick liver in early postnatal life were investigated. 2. One hundred Cobb broiler breeder hens were divided into 10 equal groups and housed in pens at 25 weeks of age. Each hen received 1 of the treatment diets which included 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg selenium, 40, 100, 200 mg/kg vitamin E or their combination. After 6 weeks, the hens were artificially inseminated once per week. From week 8, eggs were collected and placed in an incubator. After hatching, chicks from each group were reared (under standard commercial conditions) to 10 d of age. The chicks were fed on a standard starter commercial broiler diet. At the time of hatching, and at 5 and 10 days old, 4 chicks from each group were sacrificed and blood, liver and brain were collected for the subsequent biochemical analyses. 3. The inclusion of organic selenium or vitamin E in the commercial diet significantly increased their concentration in the egg and in the liver of 1-d-old chicks obtained from the eggs enriched with these substances. A positive effect of such dietary supplementation was seen at d 5 and d 10 of postnatal development. 4. There was a positive effect of selenium supplementation of the maternal diet on glutathione concentration in the liver of 1-d-old and 5-d-old chicks. A combination of a dietary selenium supplementation with high vitamin E doses further increased glutathione concentration in the liver. Dietary selenium supplementation significantly increased selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px) activity in the liver of the 1-d-old and 5-d-old chicks and decreased liver susceptibility to peroxidation. 6. It is concluded that the nutritional status of the laying hen determines the efficiency of the antioxidant system throughout embryonic and early postnatal development of the offspring.

Animal Feed↗