Dr.

Bhaskar Ganguly
M.V.Sc. Scholar , Animal Biotechnology Centre,
Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, C.V.A.Sc.,
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar-263 145
 “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
Z SO HOW CAN VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM
HELP?

“It is better
to
understand
a
little than
to
misunderstand
a lot.”
• “Anti-sterility Factor”
Z
• “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.
 acts as chain
Z
• Proven antioxidant biological functions

• With Vit. E, breaking

antioxidant

• 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 α-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 β-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 β-carotene. All the
animals became cyclic by day 30.8±7.16,
and 60% of the buffaloes became pregnant
by day 19.7±2.21 since beginning of
supplementation.
- Anita et. al., (2003)
 Oral supplementation of α-tocopherol
at 3000 mg per week per animal in
anoestrus heifers resulted in a
significant increase in vitamin E and β-
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.
- Aréchiga et.al., 1998
 Injection of Vitamin E and Se increased fertility in cattle that did not become
pregnant at first service.
- Aréchiga 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 α-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 α-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, α-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.
 Aréchiga C.F., Vázquez-Flores, S., Ortíz, O., Hernández-Cerón, J., Porras, A., McDowell, L.R., and Hansen, P.J. (1998). Effect of injection of β-carotene or
vitamin E and selenium on fertility of lactating dairy cows. Theriogenology. Jul 1; 50(1): 65-76.
 Kommisrud, E., Østerås, O., and Vatn, T. (2005). Blood Selenium Associated with Health and Fertility in Norwegian Dairy Herds. Acta Vet. Scand. 46(4): 229–40.
 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.