Alleviation Mechanisms of Selenium on Cadmium-Spiked in Chicken Ovarian Tissue: Perspectives from Autophagy and Energy Metabolism

• Published in: Biological trace element research 2018-12, Vol.186 (2), p.521-528
• Main Authors: Wang, Shuang, Xu, Zhe, Yin, Hang, Min, Yahong, Li, Shu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphatases - genetics; Adenosine Triphosphatases - metabolism; Animal tissues; Animals; Autophagy; Autophagy - drug effects; Autophagy - genetics; Avian Proteins - genetics; Avian Proteins - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Body organs; Ca2+-transporting ATPase; Cadmium; Cadmium - toxicity; Calcium; Calcium ions; Chickens; Damage; Dehydrogenase; Dehydrogenases; Dynein; Energy; Energy metabolism; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Energy Metabolism - genetics; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression - drug effects; Genes; Glucose; Heavy metals; Hexokinase; Hexokinase - genetics; Hexokinase - metabolism; Life Sciences; Magnesium; Metabolism; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Na+/K+-exchanging ATPase; Nutrition; Oncology; Oral administration; Organs; Ovaries; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - metabolism; Ovary - ultrastructure; Phagocytosis; Poultry; Protective Agents - pharmacology; Proteins; Pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide); Pyruvate kinase; Pyruvate Kinase - genetics; Pyruvate Kinase - metabolism; Pyruvic acid; Rapamycin; Selenium; Selenium - pharmacology; Succinate dehydrogenase; Tissue; TOR protein; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-018-1341-y

Cadmium (Cd) is a kind of toxic heavy metal and it can cause damage to organs and tissues. Selenium (Se) can antagonize some metal element toxicity including Cd. The present study was designed to investigate Cd-induced damage to chicken ovary by autophagy and the protective mechanism of Se on Cd-induced damage. Administration of Cd for 12 weeks led to energy metabolism disorder of the chicken ovarian tissues, which resulted in autophagy. In addition, the mRNA expression of glucose-related genes including hexokinase II (HK2), pyruvate kinase (PK), pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHX), and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and the activities of ATPase, including Na + -K + -ATPase, Ca 2+ -ATPase, Mg 2+ -ATPase, were all downregulated remarkably compared with the control. However, combined with oral administration of Se at 2 mg/kg, the mRNA expression of glucose-related genes and the activities of ATPase increased. The mRNA expression of the autophagy-related genes by Cd treatment, including microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), dynein, autophagy-related gene 5 (Atg5), and Beclin 1, was remarkably enhanced, whereas mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was downregulated. However, besides mTOR, their levels displayed a downregulated trend beyond simultaneous Se treatment. The protein expression of autophagy genes was similar to those of mRNA. In conclusion, Cd toxicity affect energy metabolism and induce autophagy, which causes damage to chicken ovary, whereas Se could protect effectively this injury induced by Cd.