Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Protective Role of Selenium on Aflatoxin B1-Induced Hepatic Dysfunction and Apoptosis of Liver in Ducklings

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin which causes toxicity through oxidative damage. Selenium (Se), an antioxidative agent, can antagonize some toxicity induced by oxidative stress. The aim of this work was to investigate the toxicity of AFB1 and the protective effects of Se on duckling liver in vivo. The study consisted of three groups: AFB1, AFB1Tx, and a control group. AFB1 group was administered aflatoxin intragastrically (0.1 mg/kg body weight). AFB1Tx group was administered AFB1 intragastrically (0.1 mg/kg body weight) plus sodium selenite (1 mg/kg body weight). The control group was given the same volume of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) via intragastric intubation. All three groups received daily administrations for 28 days. Blood samples were obtained on the 14th, 21st, and 28th days of post-administration, and the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were evaluated. A high level of serum ALT and AST was observed in AFB1 group. The activity of ALT and AST was significantly lower in Se treatment group than those in AFB1 group. Liver samples were collected on the 14th, 21st, and 28th days of post-administration, and concentrations of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and p53 were measured. Increased expression level of Bax, caspase-3, and p53 and decreased Bcl-2 expression level and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were observed in AFB1 group. Se diminished hepatic dysfunction, or damage and modulated the expression of apoptotic related proteins, in a time-dependent manner. In conclusion, concurrent treatment with Se reduced the AFB1-induced hepatic dysfunction and apoptosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Massey TE, Stewart RK, Daniels JM, Liu L (1995) Biochemical and molecular aspects of mammalian susceptibility to aflatoxin B1 carcinogenicity. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 208:213–227

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Shi DY, Guo SN, Liao SQ, Su RS, Pan JQ, Lin Y, Tang ZX (2012) Influence of selenium on hepatic mitochondrial antioxidant capacity in ducklings intoxicated with aflatoxin B1. Biol Trace Elem Res 145:325–329

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Guo SN, Shi DY, Liao SQ, Su RS, Lin YC, Pan JQ, Tang ZX (2012) Influence of selenium on body weights and immune organ indexes in ducklings intoxicated with aflatoxin B1. Biol Trace Elem Res 146:167–170

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Chen KJ, Shu G, Peng X, Fang J, Cui HM, Chen J, Wang FY, Chen ZL, Zuo ZC, Deng JL, Geng Y, Lai WM (2013) Protective role of sodium selenite on histopathological lesions, decreased T-cell subsets and increased apoptosis of thymus in broilers intoxicated with aflatoxin B1. Food Chem Toxicol 59:446–454

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Aslan A, Agar G, Alpsoy L, Kotan E, Ceker S (2011) Protective role of methanol extracts of two lichens on oxidative and genotoxic damage caused by AFB1 in human lymphocytes in vitro. Toxicol Ind Health 28:505–512

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rayman MP (2000) The importance of selenium to human health. Lancet 356:233–241

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Combs GF Jr, Midthune DN, Patterson KY, Canfield WK, Hill AD, Levander OA, Taylor PR, Moler JE, Patterson BH (2009) Effects of selenomethionine supplementation on selenium status and thyroid hormone concentrations in healthy adults. Am J Clin Nutr 89:1808–1814

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chen X, Zhu YH, Cheng XY, Zhang ZW, Xu SW (2012) The protection of selenium against cadmium-induced cytotoxicity via the heat shock protein pathway in chicken splenic lymphocytes. Molecules 17:14565–14572

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bjerregaard P, Fjordside S, Hansen MG, Petrova MB (2011) Dietary selenium reduces retention of methyl mercury in freshwater fish. Environ Sci Technol 45:9793–9798

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Park J, Lee J, Choi C (2011) Mitochondrial network determines intracellular ROS dynamics and sensitivity to oxidative stress through switching inter-mitochondrial messengers. PLoS One 6:e23211

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Green DR, Reed JC (1998) Mitochondria and apoptosis. Science 281:1309–1311

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Chatterjee S, Kundu S, Sengupta S, Bhattacharyya A (2009) Divergence to apoptosis from ROS induced cell cycle arrest: effect of cadmium. Mutat Res-Fund Mol M 663:22–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Porter AG, Jänicke RU (1999) Emerging roles of caspase-3 in apoptosis. Cell Death Differ 6:99–104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang F, Wang X, Tong L, Qiao H, Li X, You L, Jiang H, Sun X (2011) Matrine attenuates endotoxin-induced acute liver injury after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Surg Today 41:1075–1084

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wu B, Cui H, Peng X, Fang J, Zuo Z, Deng J, Huang J (2014) Dietary nickel chloride induces oxidative stress, apoptosis and alters Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase-3 mRNA expression in the cecal tonsil of broilers. Food Chem Toxicol 63:18–29

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hao X, Li J, Zhu S, Liu Y, Zhao J, Wan M, Tang W (2014) Rhein induces a necrosis-apoptosis switch in pancreatic acinar cells. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014:404853

    Google Scholar 

  17. Messaraha M, Klibetb F, Boumendjelb A, Abdennourb C, Bouzernab N, Boulakouda MS, Fekic AE (2012) Hepatoprotective role and antioxidant capacity of selenium on arsenic-induced liver injury in rats. Exp Toxicol Pathol 64:167–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Saied NM, Hamza AA (2014) Selenium ameliorates isotretinoin-induced liver injury and dyslipidemia via antioxidant effect in rats. Toxicol Mech Methods 4:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bhattacharjee A, Basu A, Ghosh P, Biswas J, Bhattacharya S (2014) Protective effect of selenium nanoparticle against cyclophosphamide induced hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. J Biomater Appl 29:303–317

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Chipuk JE, McStay GP, Bharti A, Kuwana T, Clarke CJ, Siskind LJ, Obeid LM, Green DR (2012) Sphingolipid metabolism cooperates with BAK and BAX to promote the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Cell 148:988–1000

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Li C, Zhang J, Li J, Li H, Lin Q, Li B (2012) Research on chemical constituents and biological activities of rhizoma of Panax japonicus. Guid J Tradit Chin Med Pharm 4:68–71

    Google Scholar 

  22. Basu A, Haldar S (1998) The relationship between Bcl2, Bax and p53: consequences for cell cycle progression and cell death. Mol Hum Reprod 12(4):1099–1109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Li Z, Jo J, Jia JM, Lo SC, Whitcomb DJ, Jiao S, Cho K, Sheng M (2010) Caspase-3 activation via mitochondria is required for long-term depression and AMPA receptor internalization. Cell 141:859–871

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bender CE, Fitzgerald P, Tait SW, Llambi F, McStay GP, Tupper DO, Pellettieri J, Sánchez Alvarado A, Salvesen GS, Green DR (2012) Mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis is ancestral in metazoans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:4904–4909

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Chipuk JE, Kuwana T, Bouchier-Hayes L, Droin NM, Newmeyer DD, Schuler M, Green DR (2004) Direct activation of Bax by p53 mediates mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and apoptosis. Science 303:1010–1014

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Leu JI, Dumont P, Hafey M, Murphy ME, George DL (2004) Mitochondrial p53 activates Bak and causes disruption of a Bak-Mcl1 complex. Nat Cell Biol 6:443–450

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31302087), National Twelve-Five Technological Supported Plan of China (No. 2011BAD34B01), and Science and Technology Plan Projects of Guangdong Province (No. 2012B091100482, 2012B091100034).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Shenquan Liao

  2. College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Dayou Shi, Shining Guo, Rongsheng Su, Panjia Qiang & Zhaoxin Tang

  3. Guangdong Technology Research Center for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and Nature Medicine, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Dayou Shi, Shining Guo, Rongsheng Su, Panjia Qiang & Zhaoxin Tang

  4. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, China

    Dayou Shi, Shining Guo, Rongsheng Su, Panjia Qiang & Zhaoxin Tang

  5. Alternative Medicine for Pets, Bay St. Louis, MS, 39520, USA

    Connie L. Clemons-Chevis

Authors
  1. Shenquan Liao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dayou Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Connie L. Clemons-Chevis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shining Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rongsheng Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Panjia Qiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zhaoxin Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhaoxin Tang.

Additional information

Shenquan Liao and Dayou Shi contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liao, S., Shi, D., Clemons-Chevis, C.L. et al. Protective Role of Selenium on Aflatoxin B1-Induced Hepatic Dysfunction and Apoptosis of Liver in Ducklings. Biol Trace Elem Res 162, 296–301 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0131-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0131-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation