Abstract

Selenium decreases cellular damage caused by oxidative stress and improves the organism physiological response. Leukocytes were evaluated during embryonic development in ewes with consumption of organic selenium. A total of 27 local ewes at the municipality of San Andrés Chiautla, Mexico State, with an average age of 2.5 years, were randomly assigned in two groups, 11 in control group (without Selenium, S-Se) and 16 with oral selenium (C-Se; selenium-enriched yeast) addition at dose of 0.3 ppm, for a period of seven days before Artificial Insemination (AI) consuming a diet based on alfalfa and corn stubble. White cell differential counting was performed on blood smears. Samples were taken before, during and after selenium treatment. Data were analyzed by mixed model, showing significant differences by treatment and time (p ≤ 0.05) in neutrophils; day 9 of embryonic development (5.91 ± 0.89 y 2.11 ± 0.46; S-Se y C-Se, respectively) and basophils amount was at day -3 (1.85 ± 0.31 y 1.05 ± 0.23). Regarding lymphocytes and eosinophils, they showed a difference in time (p ≤ 0.05) but not by treatment (p ≥ 0.05). It is concluded that selenium decreases the number of neutrophils and basophils; after blastocyst formation and four days after starting organic selenium treatment.

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