The effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on oxidant and antioxidant activities and neonatal lamb weight gain pattern

Selenium (Se) is an antioxidant element that prevents the oxidative stress. Se incorporates into proteins such as selenocysteine and prevents oxidative damage to body tissues. In neonatal period, the different types of stress such as hypoglycemia and hypothermia may predispose them to many types of infectious diseases and also reduce growth rate at postnatal period. For these reasons, the present study was conducted on 12 newborn lambs to evaluate the effects of oral selenium nanoparticle (SeNP) supplementation on serum levels of selenium, copper, zinc, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and also weight gain changes during the first month of their life. Lambs were randomly divided into two groups. The treated group received SeNPs (0.1 mg/kg) and the control group received distilled water orally for seven consecutive days and the blood samples were taken on days 0, 7, 14, and 28. Results showed that in response to the 7-day SeNP administration and compared with the control group, serum selenium concentration was significantly increased, and serum copper and zinc levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). It was found that on day 14, TBARS activity was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). On day 28, the SOD level was increased compared with the control group and the TBARS activity decreased (P < 0.05). It was also shown that SeNP supplementation can significantly improve the weight gain of lambs on the 14th and 28th day. Overall, the results of the present study indicated the beneficial effects of SeNPs on antioxidant activity and weight gain patterns of newborn lambs which may promote lambs’ growth rate in postnatal period.