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Dietary incorporation of feedstuffs naturally high in organic selenium for racing pigeons ( Columba livia) : effects on plasma antioxidant markers after a standardised simulation of a flying effort
Author(s) -
Schoonheere N.,
Dotreppe O.,
Pincemail J.,
Istasse L.,
Hornick J. L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2008.00879.x
Subject(s) - selenium , glutathione peroxidase , antioxidant , oxidative stress , chemistry , peroxidase , zoology , glutathione , food science , blood plasma , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , catalase , organic chemistry
Summary Selenium is a trace element of importance for animal health. It is essential for adequate functioning of many enzymes such as, the antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase, which protects the cell against free radicals. A muscular effort induces a rise in reactive oxygen species production which, in turn, can generate an oxidative stress. Two groups of eight racing pigeons were fed respectively with a diet containing 30.3 (control group) and 195.3 (selenium group) μ g selenium/kg diet. The pigeons were submitted to a standardised simulation of a flying effort during 2 h. Blood was taken before and after the effort to measure antioxidant markers and blood parameters related to muscle metabolism. Plasma selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly higher in the selenium group. There were no significant differences for the other measured parameters. As a consequence of the effort, the pigeons of the selenium group showed a higher increase of glutathione peroxidase activity and a smaller increase of plasma lactate concentration. Variations because of the effort in the other markers were not significantly different between the two groups. It is concluded that the selenium status was improved with the feeding of feedstuffs high in Selenium.