Selenium for the mitigation of toxicity induced by lead in chicken testes through regulating mRNA expressions of HSPs and selenoproteins

Lead (Pb) is a toxic element and environmental pollutant. Pb toxicity and antagonistic effect of selenium (Se) on Pb have been deeply studied in mammals. The testis is one of the target organs of Pb in birds. The aim of this study was to investigate the mitigating effect of Se on Pb toxicity in chicken testes by determining messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of 5 heat shock proteins (HSPs) and 25 selenoproteins. Sixty male chickens (7-day-old) were randomly divided into the control group, the Se group, the Pb group, and the Pb + Se group, and were fed for 90 days. The feeding methods of chickens were as follows: The control group was fed drinking water and commercial diet (0.49 mg/kg Se). Lead acetate was added into the drinking water (350 mg/L Pb). Sodium selenite was added into the commercial diet (1 mg/kg Se). Multivariate correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to define the relationships among all the measured factors and the most important parameters that could be used as key factors, respectively. The results indicated that Se decreased the increase of mRNA expressions of all the HSPs and increased the decrease of mRNA expressions of all the selenoproteins induced by Pb in the chicken testes. HSP70 may be a biomarker of Pb poisoning in the chicken testes. Se alleviated Pb-induced toxicity in the chicken testes through regulating mRNA expressions of HSPs and selenoproteins.