title: The Functions of Antioxidants and Heat Shock Proteins Are Altered in the Immune Organs of Selenium-Deficient Broiler Chickens.
abstract: Despite increasing evidence indicating the essential involvement of selenium (Se) in the immune system, the effect of Se deficiency on the regulation of oxidative stress and heat shock proteins (Hsps) in broiler chickens is still unclear. In the present study, we established an exudative diathesis (ED) broiler chicken model caused by Se deficiency. We then analyzed histological observations and detected the expression levels of Hsps and antioxidant indexes in immune tissues. The antioxidant function declined remarkably, and most of the Hsp expression levels increased significantly in the spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius of the broiler chicks with ED (except the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of Hsp27, Hsp40, and Hsp70, which decreased in thymus tissues from the treatment groups); therefore, constitutive oxidation resistance and higher Hsps in broiler chicks with ED caused defects in immune organ morphology and function, as evidenced by abnormal histological structures: red pulp broadening and lymphocytes in the cortex and medulla of the thymic lobule decreased distinctly and distributed loosely. These results underscore the importance of Se in establishing an immune organ microenvironment conducive to normal function.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zijiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ci
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People's Republic of China. tengxiaohua@neau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People's Republic of China. lishu@neau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012643:Selenium / Q000172:deficiency*; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Broiler chick; Heat shock proteins; Immune organs; Oxidative stress; Selenium