VARIATION OF SOME HEMATOLOGICAL INDICATORS, HEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AND WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT IN CHICKS FED WITH ORGANIC

SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTED FODDER

A. RDU, D. CURC, CRISTINA CONSTANTINESCU adrianraduta4u@yahoo.com Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest
Key words: selenium, oxidative stress, chicks, hematological indicator, hematological indices. SUMMARY Selenium is known to be an antioxidant mineral element that prevents free radical formation. It has its own biochemical role, by mediating the glutathione activity, thus indirectly protecting the hemoglobin from peroxidation. In the beginning of egg laying period, the chicks are found in full growing and process, thus their organism must satisfy both the metabolic needs oriented to a harmonious development and the ones needed for egg production. It is likely that, by intensifying the metabolic processes, to generate more free radicals, so that it is possible that the organism is exposed to greater oxidative stress than normal. This study researched the beneficial effects of supplementing the fodder ratio with Se on some hematological indicators and hematological indices in chicks: erythrocyte count (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and also the leukocyte count (WBC). All the values obtained were between the normal range for the specie, hybrid, age, sex and production category. The erythropoiesis increase can be attested by the decrease of the mean erythrocyte volume (MCV), concluding that a large number of young erythrocyte with a smaller volume, are released into the blood circulation. Concomitantly, because of its antioxidant role on the red blood cell membrane, the selenium prevents the degradation of the mature erythrocytes. Because of the intensification of the erythropoiesis, the red blood cell count and the hemoglobin value increase, therefore the MCHC also increases, and the tissue oxygenation rate is amplified, it is justified to believe that by supplementing the fodder ratio with Se the health status of the livestock, but also their reproductive performances. The decrease of the leukocyte count (WBC) could be explained by the increase of the erythrocyte count, the percentage by which these values are altered being sensibly equal.

Selenium is known to be an antioxidant mineral element that prevents free radical formation by mediating the glutathione activity, thus indirectly protecting the hemoglobin from peroxidation, through three antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (Avanzo et al., 2001; Bartholomew et al., 1998; Combs and Combs, 1986).

Stressful conditions, associated with free radicals over-production, may cause cellular lysis. These cases are often seen when animals are fed with polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, or manganese deficient fodder, or on the contrary, iron or vitamin A excessive in the fodder, alongside with toxins or toxic compounds (Curc D., 2005). The non-enzymatic defensive system includes molecules that are able to neutralize free radicals generated by excess oxygen, both from the lipophilic media (vitamin E and vitamin A), as well as from the hydrophilic media (ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, uric acid). The selenium deficit, even insignificant, affects the activity of reduced glutathione (GSH-Px) and leads to cellular and intracellular membrane peroxidation, thus affecting the cellular permeability and increasing the levels of prostaglandins (inflammatory factors) that also influence blood pressure (Curc D., 2008b). The structure of numerous molecules (e.g. the DNA molecule) is also affected once with the peroxidation of the cellular membranes, and the molecules continue their physiological functions, even if the induced alterations would gradually lead to various states of cancer. Also, selenium deficiency could cause erythrocyte hemolysis and/or anemia in primates, dogs, rats, and chickens as well (McDowell, L. R., 1992). The animal organisms have far better to gain from organic selenium forms (selenoaminoacids, e.g. selenomethionine), which have a better biodisponibility than the inorganic compounds. The amount of selenium assimilated in the organism increases, because these amino-acids are not rapidly excreted in the urine, and may be used in every cell that capture them (Surai P.F., 2000; Surai, P.F., 2002; Surai P.F., 2006).
1. MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study noted the values of some hematological indicators, of some hematological indices and white blood cell count after supplementing the fodder ratio with selenium (2 g/kg) for four weeks, in eight Rosso hybrid chicks (experimental group), and compared them with the values of the same hematological indicators, indices and white blood cell count from twelve Rosso hybrid chicks (control group), the age of all the animals used in the present experiment averaging between 18 and 20 weeks. The combined fodder recipe (Fig.1) was as follows: protein-vitaminmineral complex 10%, maize 48%, wheat 27%, soy 8%, fishmeal 1%,

sunflower schrot 6%, and it had following nutritional characteristics: assimilable energy 2870.15 kcal/kg, protein 15.60%, methionine 0.29%, lysine 0.70%, fat 2.68%, calcium 1.07%, phosphorus 0.70%.

Maize 48%

Wheat 27%

Soy 8%

Proteinvitamin-mineral complex 10%

Sunflower schrot 6%

Fishmeal 1%

Fig. 1 The combined fodder recipe

This experiment used organic selenium (Sel-Plex, AllTech Kentucky). Each tablet contains selenium yeast 50 mcg (selenomethionine 50%, selenocysteine 20% and selenoprotein, and selenium organic compounds 30%), magnesium stearate 225 mcg (6%), lactose, microcrystalline cellulose and sodium laurylsulphate. Four weeks after the first supplementation with selenium, blood samples were collected by venipuncture of the cubital vein, which were the object of hematological investigations, while the organs and skeletal muscles were macroscopically observed after the control sacrifice. The blood was collected on anticoagulant (EDTA 1-2 mg/ml blood), and the hematological indicator were determined with the automated machine Coulter-Counter (ACT 5 diff CP-Beckman analyzer). A complete blood count (CBC) has been determined: red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and hematological indices: mean corpuscular volume

(MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).
2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

After performing control sacrifices, it was concluded that the findings in the carcasses, in the organs of the thoracoabdominal cavity and in the brain were insignificant. The results of the hematological investigations concerning hematological indicators and hematological indices, as the leukocyte count, are presented in Table 1, while Fig.2 suggestively illustrates the tendency of increasing or decreasing.
Table 1 The average values of some hematological indicators, hematological indices and leukocyte count in chicks from the control group and from the experimental group, and the percentage by which the ones in the experimental group increases/decreases in value Specification Control group Experimental group Increase/ decrease (%) Hematological indicators RBC Hb Hct
(x10 /l)
6

Hematological indices MCV MCH MCHC

( )
3

WBC
(x 103/l)

(g/dl)

(%)

(pg Hb/E)

(g Hb/dl E)

3,125 3,43 9,76

7,10 7,69 8,30

34,65 31,92 7,87

110,88 93,57 15,61

22,72 22,50 0,96

20,52 24,09 17,39

28,375 25,77 9,21

The tendency of the RBC count to increase with 9.76% in the experimental group as the result of the acceleration of the erythropoiesis has also been mentioned by Curc D., 2005. Meanwhile, the hemoglobin value indicates an increase of only 8.30%, consecutive to the increase in number of young erythrocytes, with less cytoplasm than in a mature erythrocyte, therefore explaining the discrete tendency to decrease of the mean corpuscular hemoglobin with 0.96%, as the total quantity of hemoglobin found in the blood stream decreases, as mentioned by Curc D., 2008a; Curc D., 2008b; Maysa, M.Hanafy et al., 2009. The result of the erythropoiesis acceleration is that more young erythrocytes are released into the blood stream by the hematopoietic bone marrow, but because of their smaller volume, the value of the hematocrit decreases. But the hematocrit value may decrease also due to a better hydration of the animals, so an increase of the plasmatic mass in the

detriment of the corpuscular mass, an event also noted by Yahav S. et al., 1997.

9.76%

8.30%

7.87%

0.96%

17.39%

RBC

HB

Ht Control group

MCV

15.61%

MCH

MCHC

WBC

Se supplemented group

Fig. 2 Variation of some hematological indicators, hematological indices and WBC count in chicks from the control group and from the experimental group

Because of the large number of young erythrocytes with a smaller volume than that of mature erythrocytes, the mean corpuscular volume has decreases, similar to the results of McDowell, L. R, 1992; Rdu A., 2011; da Silva ICM et al. 2010. Once with the increase of the value of hemoglobin and with the decrease of the mean corpuscular volume, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration increases by 17.39% The tendency to decrease of the white blood cell count is comparable to the percent of red blood cell count increase.
3. CONCLUSIONS

3.1. In this experiment one of the biological roles of selenium could be observed, that of its implication in the acceleration of the hematopoietic bone marrow activity, and so its role in the formation of new red blood cells.

9.21%

3.2. The anti-anemic role of selenium is pointed out, first by the hematopoiesis acceleration, and second by its antioxidant effect that prevent hemolysis. 3.3. By stimulating the erythropoiesis, increasing the red blood cell count, and the hemoglobin, selenium may help to a better tissue oxygenation, so to an increase of the basal metabolism, therefore promoting the growing processes, but also optimizing the productive parameters.
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