Effect of Vitamin E and Selenium (Se) Supplementation on Biochemical Parameters and Expression of Metallothionein (MT-2) in Heavy Metals Exposed Buffaloes

Background: Farm animals may serve as bio-indicators of environmental pollution. Environmental heavy metals may disrupt the normal physiological and biochemical profile of the animals. The present study was planned to reduce the stress caused by heavy metal pollution by oral feeding of vitamin E and Selenium in heavy metals exposed buffaloes. Methods: Twenty buffaloes were selected on the basis of blood levels of heavy metals and divided into exposed and non-exposed groups. Exposed animals (n=10) were orally supplemented with 20 ml/day of Cargill E care Se (R) containing vitamin E, 100 mg/ml and Se 0.5 mg/ml for 30 days. Antioxidants, biochemical parameters and the expression of metallothionein-2 were analyzed after supplementation on 0, 15 and 30 days. Result: The levels of heavy metal were found to be elevated even after 30 days of supplementation. No significant alterations were observed in activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase ( GPx) after 30 days of supplementation. There was significantly (p<0.05) higher activity of blood glutathione and plasma Vitamin E. In supplemented group, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and total Immunoglobulin were found to be significantly reduced in supplemented group. Expression of metal binding protein, metallothionein-2 was found to be elevated in exposed animals despite supplementation with Vitamin E and Se for 30 days.