Effect of Organic and Inorganic Form of Selenium on Antioxidant Status of Breeding Boars Ejaculate Revealed by Electrochemistry

The main aim of the presented study was to determine the effects of selenium on antioxidant status of Duroc boars ejaculates. Twenty-eight Duroc boars were divided to four experimental groups, seven boars per each group. Each group was supplemented with both the organic form (0.3 and 0.6 mg selenium per kg) and inorganic form (0.3 and 0.6 mg selenium per kg) of selenium in the feed mixture. The duration of the experiment was 18 weeks. All the boars were carefully collected at strictly defined four time intervals. The activity of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, antioxidant capacity, ratio between reduced and oxidized glutathione, metallothionein content and concentration of zinc and selenium were determined. The dietary supplementation of the organic form of selenium at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg of feed mixture increased significantly (by 48 %, P < 0.01) activity of the glutathione peroxidase in the ejaculate. Concentration of selenium in ejaculate of this experimental group was increased by 82 % (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of organic form of selenium at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg of feed mixture led to an increase of free radicals by 62 % (P < 0.01), ABTS for 45 % (P < 0.05), and GSH/GSSH for 55 % (P < 0.05). When evaluating the content of zinc and metallothionein, no significant differences between experimental groups of animals were found. Experimental group of boars supplemented by the selenium in the concentration of 0.3 mg/kg in the feed mixture in the inorganic form had significantly reduced the total number of sperms produced per one taking (P < 0.001). The results of the present study indicate that the dietary supplementation of feed mixture by the selenium in the concentration of 0.6 mg Se/kg significantly improves the antioxidant potential of the breeding boars ejaculate. A lower oxidative stress and higher fertility can be therefore assumed.