Increasing selenium supply during the close-up dry period improves nutrient metabolism and attenuates inflammatory response after calving in dairy cows

Oxylipins biosynthesis and the regulation of bovine postpartum inflammation

Uncontrolled or dysregulated inflammation has adverse effects on the reproduction, production and health of animals, and is a major pathological cause of increased incidence and severity of infectious and metabolic diseases. To achieve successful transition from a non-lactation pregnant state to a non-pregnant lactation state, drastic metabolic and endocrine alteration have taken place in dairy cows during the periparturient period. These physiological changes, coupled with decreased dry matter intake near calving and sudden change of diet composition after calving, have the potential to disrupt the delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammation, resulting in a disordered or excessive inflammatory response. In addition to cytokines and other immunoregulatory factors, most oxylipins formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) via enzymatic and nonenzymatic oxygenation pathways have pro- or anti-inflammatory properties and play a pivotal role in the onset, development and resolution of inflammation. However, little attention has been paid to the possibility that oxylipins could function as endogenous immunomodulating agents. This review will provide a detailed overview of the main oxylipins derived from different PUFAs and discuss the regulatory role that oxylipins play in the postpartum inflammatory response in dairy cows. Based on the current research, much remains to be illuminated in this emerging field. Understanding the role that oxylipins play in the control of postpartum inflammation and inflammatory-based disease may improve our ability to prevent transition disorders via Management, pharmacological, genetic selection and dietary intervention strategies.

The Role of Selenitetriglycerides in Enhancing Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms in Peripartum Holstein-Friesian Cows

The transition period in high-yielding dairy cows is a critical phase marked by an elevated risk of oxidative stress. This study evaluated the effect of oral selenitetriglyceride supplementation on oxidative stress management in periparturient cows. A controlled experiment was conducted on 12 cows, divided into two groups: the experimental group (STG) received selenitetriglycerides (0.5 mg Se/kg BW), while the control group (CON) was given a placebo, starting 12 days before calving until the calving day. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected at predetermined intervals around the time of parturition. The study observed a significant increase in serum selenium levels and NEFA stabilization in the STG group compared with the control. Antioxidant parameters indicated elevated GSH-Px and CAT concentrations in the STG group. Liver gene expression analysis revealed a significant increase in SOD2 mRNA levels in the STG group (FC = 4.68, p < 0.01). Conversely, GSH-Px3 expression significantly decreased (FC = 0.10, p < 0.05) on the 7th day postpartum in the CON group. However, SOD1, SOD3, and CAT expressions remained stable in both groups. These findings highlight the beneficial role of selenitetriglycerides in enhancing antioxidant capacity and influencing specific gene expressions associated with oxidative stress management in dairy cows during the peripartum period.

Effects of vitamin E and selenium administration on transportation stress in pregnant dairy heifers

We investigated the effects of road transportation and administration of the vitamin E and selenium (ESe) on circulating cortisol, haptoglobin, blood metabolites, oxidative biomarkers, white blood cell profiles, and behaviors in pregnant dairy heifers. Forty pregnant Holstein heifers were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments: no transportation and no ESe administration, no transportation and ESe administration, transportation and no administration, and transportation and ESe administration. The ESe (70 IU/kg dry matter feed of dl-α-tocopheryl acetate and 0.3 mg/kg dry matter feed of sodium selenite) was orally delivered once a day from 7 d before transportation to 3 d after transportation. The heifers were transported in trucks designed for cattle transportation. Blood was collected 1 h before transportation, immediately after transportation (IAT), and at 6, 24, and 48 h after transportation. Behaviors were recorded using a video camera for 2 consecutive days after transportation. Transported/non-ESe-administered heifers had greater cortisol at IAT, haptoglobin at 6 and 24 h after transportation, total oxidative status at 6 h after transportation, and nonesterified fatty acid levels, white blood cell numbers, and neutrophil percentages at IAT and 6 h after transportation in the blood than nontransported heifers. Transported/non-ESe-administered heifers had lower total antioxidative status levels at 48 h after transportation and lymphocyte percentages at IAT and 6 h after transportation than nontransported heifers. Lying time was shorter in transported heifers than nontransported/non-ESe-administered heifers. Transported/ESe-administered heifers had lower cortisol, total oxidative status, nonesterified fatty acid levels at IAT, and haptoglobin concentrations at 6 and 24 h after transportation than transported/non-ESe-administered heifers. Transported/ESe-administered heifers had greater total antioxidative status levels at 48 h after transportation than transported/non-ESe-administered heifers. No ESe administration effects were observed for white blood cell number and neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages and lying time. In conclusion, road transportation caused temporary oxidative stress. Administrating ESe partially alleviated the stress, suggesting that ESe administration could be a viable strategy to reduce stress in transported pregnant heifers, providing a novel role of vitamin E and selenium for improving animal welfare.

Acute phase proteins in cattle and swine: A review

The major acute phase proteins (APPs) in cattle are haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), and in swine, are Hp, SAA, C-reactive protein (CRP), and Pig major acute phase protein (Pig-MAP). Many methodologic assays are presently available to measure these parameters, which are still being improved to increase their specificity, sensitivity, user-friendliness, and economic availability. In cattle, the main applications are the diagnosis and monitoring of frequent diseases such as mastitis and metritis in dairy cows and respiratory problems in young calves. In pigs, APPs are useful in the control of bacterial and viral infections, and they may be used at the slaughterhouse to monitor subclinical pathologies and improve food safety. The utility of APP in animal production must not be forgotten; optimization of protocols to improve performance, welfare, and nutrition may benefit from the use of APPs. Other sample types besides serum or plasma have potential uses; APP determination in milk is a powerful tool in the control of mastitis, saliva is a non-invasive sample type, and meat juice is easily obtained at the slaughterhouse. Increasing our knowledge of reference intervals and the influence of variables such as age, breed, sex, and the season is important. Finally, worldwide harmonization and standardization of analytical procedures will help to expand the use of APPs.

Ameliorative effects of supranutritional selenium on TLR-4-NF-kB-TNF-α-mediated hepatic oxidative injury and inflammation in goats fed high concentrate diet

We examined whether surplus dietary selenium (Se) supply could alleviate high concentrate (HC) diet-induced hepatic oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Eighteen young goats were distributed into three groups; were fed low (LC, concentrate: forage; 35: 65), high concentrate (HC, 65: 35), or Se-supplemented HC (HCSe, 65: 35 + 0.5 mg Se kg-1 diet) diets for 10 weeks. Short chain fatty acids, OS markers and immunoinflammatory genes expressions were assessed through gas chromatograph, kits, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Compared with LC, HC diet increased (p < .05) colonic and serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and induced hepatic oxidative injury by increasing (p < .05) malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreasing (p < .05) activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. HC diet altered hepatic mRNA expressions of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), cluster of differentiation-14 (CD-14), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF receptor-associated factor-6 (TRAF-6), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-10, IL-13, LPS-binding protein (LBP), serum amyloid A (SAA), α-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and albumin (ALB). Conversely, extra-Se supply lowered LPS and attenuated antioxidant status and inflammation in liver. In conclusion, HC diet induced oxidative lesions and TLR-4 pathway-mediated inflammation, whereas supranutritional Se alleviated oxidative and inflammatory lesions through TLR-4 pathway regulation in goat liver.