Dr. Bhaskar Ganguly Animal Biotechnology Centre, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, C.V.A.Sc., G.B.

Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar-263 145 E-mail: bhaskarvet@yahoo.co.in

Life is the outcome of an elaborate organization based on trivial ingredients and ordinary forces.
-G.E. Palade

 Suboptimal / Excessive body weight Extreme planes of nutrition Hormonal dysfunctions and imbalances Cystic ovarian diseases Delayed uterine involution Metritis, etc.
-Oltenacu et. al., 1983. -Martinez & Tbibier, 1984.

Grind up cabbages or grind up kings, The elements found are the very same things.

Free Radicals: Unseen Enemies Within

Derange the cell integrity Damage reproductive tissues and endocrine organs
-Kahlon & Singh, 2004

Damage and lyse red blood cells causing anemia

- Kahlon et. al., 2002

Cause poor semen quality in males

-Tuoromaa, 2000 - Beckett & Arthur, 2005 -Khillare et. al., 2007

Maternal free radicals cause embryonic mortalities and teratogenic defects

-Viana et. al., 1996

SO HOW CAN VITAMIN E

AND

SELENIUM HELP?

It is better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.

 Anti-sterility Factor Tocopherol (tocos {birth} + fer {bear}) All animals derive their Vitamin E from plant sources Capable of slaking a peroxyl radical about 200 X faster than BHT Influences all the three germinal layers in the embryo by preventing the rapid destruction of Vitamin A Scavenges radicals in the lipophilic compartment Control of phospholipase A2 activity

 Unless regenerated via the tocopheroxyl radical by vitamin C, vitamin E needs to be replenished either directly through diet or from reserves.

Degradation of the vitamin by rumen microorganism may be accountable for the poor biological availability of supplementary dietary vitamin E.
Beneficial role of vitamin E in reproduction can be attributed to both its antioxidant and non-antioxidant properties. Also believed to promote the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary.

 Proven antioxidant biological functions

With Vit. E, antioxidant acts as chain

breaking

The selenoenzyme, GPx, destroys peroxides Protects cells from heavy metals

Stimulates the proliferation of cells from small follicles and augments the stimulatory effect of gonadotropins in the same cells in females
Iodothyronine deiodinase, a selenoenzyme, catalyzes the activation of thyroid hormones

-Antonie Lavoisier

 Plasma -tocopherol is lowest during the periparturient period, and supplementation with dietary antioxidants is especially critical.
- Weiss et. al., (1990); - Goff and Stabel (1990)

Postpartum anoestrus buffaloes were found to have significantly higher level of lipid peroxidation and lower levels of plasma Vitamin E and -carotene; supplementation of Vitamin E and Se led to a significant decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation accompanied by an increase in the levels of plasma Vitamin E and -carotene. All the animals became cyclic by day 30.87.16, and 60% of the buffaloes became pregnant by day 19.72.21 since beginning of supplementation.
- Anita et. al., (2003)

Oral supplementation of -tocopherol at 3000 mg per week per animal in anoestrus heifers resulted in a significant increase in vitamin E and carotene levels, and improved the antioxidant status by mitigating the harmful effects of free radical induced oxidative stress.
- Kahlon and Singh, 2004

Number of services and days to conception were lower in the 2000 IU vitamin E supplemented cows.
- Baldi et al., 2003

The incidence of retained placenta was reduced to 0% in cows receiving both Se and vitamin E. Incidence of metritis was 60% for cows injected with Se and 84% for those not receiving Se. Cystic ovaries were diagnosed in 19% of cows injected with Se, and incidence was 47% for cows not treated with Se. Supplementation of vitamin E was required in addition to Se for prevention of retained placenta of cows fed stored ensiled forage. Prepartum Se injections were effective for reducing the incidence of metritis and cystic ovaries during the early postpartum period. Se status of the dairy animal at calving has an effect on uterine health and ovarian function during the early postpartum period.
- Harrison et. al., 1984

Dietary selenium deficiencies are both more frequent and severe. Se status is important for super ovulation in cattle and multiple births in ewes because of its importance in sperm transport and establishment of ova. A sustained-release multi-trace element/vitamin rumen bolus system effective for several months can increase the lambing percentages in ewes, and increase the herd conception.
- Hemingway, 2003

Prepartum supplementation with Vitamin E and Se improves upon the percentage of cows pregnant to the first service, the number of services per conception and the inter-calving period. It also decreases the incidence of retained fetal membranes.
- Archiga et.al., 1998

Injection of Vitamin E and Se increased fertility in cattle that did not become pregnant at first service.
- Archiga et.al., 1998

A positive association exists between increased blood Se concentration pre partum and decreased incidence of mastitis, ovarian cysts and anoestrus/silent oestrus post partum.
- Kommisrud et. al., 2005

Super ovulated beef cows on an adequate plane of nutrition supplemented with Se had 100% of ova fertilized versus 41% of ova fertilized in unsupplemented cows.
- Segerson et. al., 1977

Selenium and vitamin E supplementation increased uterine contractions and contractions moving toward the oviduct in ewes implying higher rates of fertilization of the ova.
- Segerson and Ganpathy, 1981 - Segerson et. al., 1980

Glutathione peroxidase, a selenoenzyme, protects ova from oxidative damage prior to ovulation, thereby affecting subsequent fertilization.
- Hurley and Doane, 1989

Hypovitaminosis E causes low hatchability of eggs in poultry.

- Jain, 2001

Deficiency of Vitamin E and Se causes immotile sperm with separation of head from tail, oligospermia, degenerative changes in epididymis, and impaired testicular function.
- Tuoromaa, 2000 - Beckett & Arthur, 2005

GPx4 allows the production of correct architecture of sperm mid-piece and provides protection from harmful reactive oxygen species.
- Khillare et. al., 2007

Vitamin E deficiency results in fetal anemia, death and resorption, and degenerative changes in the uterine and the embryo vascular system.
- Scott, 1978

Se deficiency causes abnormal, sterile and hairless offspring.

- Underwood, 1979

Administration of Vitamin E to diabetic animals decreased the embryo malformations and increased the size and maturation.
- Viana et. al., 1996

Martinez, J., and Tbibier, M. (1984). Reproductive disorders in dairy cattle: Interrelationships between pre- or post-service infectious and functional disorders. Theriogenology. 21: 584. Oltenacu, P.A., Btitt, J.H., Braun, R.K. and Mellenberger, R.W. (1983). Relationships among type of parturition, type of discharge from genital tract, involution of cervix, and subsequent reproductive performance in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 66: 612. Kahlon, R.S., and Singh, R. (2004). Effect of -tocopherol supplementation on plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins in anestrus buffalo heifers (Bubalus bubalis). Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. Vol. 17; 8: 1088-92. Kahlon, R.S., Sodhi, S.P.S., Singh, R., and Singh, N. (2002) Osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in normal cycling and -tocopherol supplemented anestrus buffalo heifers. SARAS Journal of Livestock and Poultry Production. Vol. 18; 3/4: 30-35. Tuoromaa, T.E. (2000). Chromium, selenium, copper and other trace minerals in health and reproduction. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. 15: 145-57. Beckett, G.J., and Arthur, J.R. (2005). Selenium and endocrine system. J. Endo. 184: 455-65. Khillare, K.P., Sahatpure, S.K., Vanlalpeka, K., Bombatkar, R.S., and Tijare, G.S. (2007). Trace Minerals and Reproduction in Animals. Intas Polivet. Vol. 8; II: 308-14. Viana, M., Herrera, E., and Bonet, B. (1996). Teratogenic effects of diabetes mellitus in the rat: Prevention by vitamin E. Diabetologia. Vol. 39; 9: 1041-46. Jain, J.L. (2001). Fat Soluble Vitamins in Fundamentals of Biochemistry. pp. 804. S.Chand & Co. Ltd., New Delhi. Harrison, J.H., Hancock, D.D., and Conrad, H.R. (1984). Vitamin E and Selenium for Reproduction of the Dairy Cow. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 67; 1: 123-32. Goff. J.P., and Stabel, J.R. (1990). Decreased plasma retinal, -tocopherol, and zinc concentration during the periparturient period: Effect of milk fever. J. Dairy Sci. 73: 3195. Anita, Nayyar S., Singha, S.P.S., and Singh, N. (2003). Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant vitamins in postpartum anoestrus buffaloes supplemented with vitamin E and selenium. Indian Journal of Dairy Science. Vol. 56; 1: 33-37. Baldi, A., Savoini, G., Pinotti, L., Monfardini, E., Cheli, F., and Orto, V.D. Effects of Vitamin E and Different Energy Sources on Vitamin E Status, Milk Quality and Reproduction in Transition Cows. Journal of Veterinary Medicine. A Vol. 47;10: 599 - 608. Hemingway, R.G. (2003). The Influences of Dietary Intakes and Supplementation with Selenium and Vitamin E on Reproduction Diseases and Reproductive Efficiency in Cattle and Sheep. Veterinary Research Communications. Vol. 27; 2/Feb: 159-174. Archiga C.F., Vzquez-Flores, S., Ortz, O., Hernndez-Cern, J., Porras, A., McDowell, L.R., and Hansen, P.J. (1998). Effect of injection of -carotene or vitamin E and selenium on fertility of lactating dairy cows. Theriogenology. Jul 1; 50(1): 65-76. Kommisrud, E., sters, O., and Vatn, T. (2005). Blood Selenium Associated with Health and Fertility in Norwegian Dairy Herds. Acta Vet. Scand. 46(4): 22940. Segerson, E.C., Jr., Murray, F.A., Moxon, A.L., Redman, D.R., and Conrad, H.R. (1977). Selenium/ vitamin E: role in fertilization of bovine ova. J. Dairy Sci. 60: 1001. Segerson, E.C., and Ganapathy, S.N. (1981). Fertilization of ova in selenium/vitamin E-treated ewes maintained on two planes of nutrition. J. Ani. Sci. 51: 386. Segerson, E.C., Jr., Riviere, G., Bullock, T.R., Thimaya, S., and Ganapathy, S.N. (1980). Uterine contractions and electrical activity in ewes treated with selenium and vitamin E. Biol. Reprod. 23: 1020.

Takayanagi. R., Kato, K.I., and Ibayashi, H. (1986). Relative inactivation of steroidogenic enzyme activities of in vitro vitamin E-depleted human adrenal microsomes by lipid peroxidation. Endocrinology. 119: 464.
Scott, M.L. (1978). Vitamin E. pp. 133 in Handbook of lipid research. Vol. 2. The fat-soluble vitamins. DeLuca, H.F. ed. Plenum Press, New York, NY. Underwood, E.J. (1979). Trace elements in human and animal reproduction. Academic Press.