In order to investigate the effect of inorganic Selenium replacement with organic Selenium from Spirulina algae on performance and breast meat quality of broilers, a total of 160 one-day-old chicks were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments, eight replicates and five birds per each replicate. The sources of Selenium used included sodium selenite and organic Selenium from Spirulina algae which were replaced at two levels of 50 and 100 percent. The organic Selenium was produced by the culture of Spirulina algae and its enrichment with Selenium. The Selenium content of different treatments was measured by ICP-Mass method. In this experiment, the feed intake and body weight gain parameters were measured weekly and feed conversion ratio was calculated. At 42 day of age, one bird was slaughtered from each replicate and the weight of carcass ready to cook was measured. The breast meat was sampled for measurement of pH and Selenium storage. The results showed that it was not observed any significant difference in performance traits and ready to cook carcass percentage among different treatments. There was no significant difference in breast muscle pH at 0 and 24 hours after slaughtering. The amount of Selenium deposited in breast muscle of birds fed organic Selenium had significant increase when compared with other treatments (P<0.05). Generally, the results of this study showed that 100% replacement of sodium selenite with organic Selenium from Spirulina algae led to increase in breast muscle Selenium deposition without reduction in bird performance.

Background: Selenium Nanoparticles (Se NPs) and Selenium nanocomposites (Se NCs) have different biological effects. The current study aimed to compare the effects of newly synthesized Se NPs and Se NCs on biochemical and histopathological parameters of rats. The synthesized Se NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups to examine the biological effects of Se NPs. Control rats received saline intraperitoneally while experimental rats were received four-week intraperitoneal injections of Se powder, Se NPs, and Se NCs at the dose of (0. 4 mg/kg). After four weeks, serum was obtained by the conventional methods, and then rats were sacrificed to separate liver, kidney, and testis tissues for histopathological examinations. Results: The intraperitoneal injection of Se powder caused significant elevations in serum liver enzyme levels, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) lipid peroxidation, and serum creatinine levels (P < 0. 05). The histopathological investigations showed necrosis and fatty change in liver. Kidney sections showed cytoplasmic vacuolation and hyaline casts, and the testis sections showed degeneration of seminiferous tubules. Se NPs intraperitoneal injections at a dose of 0. 4 mg/kg caused no significant effects on liver enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and histopathological changes while significantly increased serum BUN and creatinine levels (P < 0. 05). The group treated with Se NCs showed normal biochemical and histopathological parameters (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: The current study proved the toxicity of Se powder,however, nano-formulations of Se showed fewer side effects.

Background & Objective: Selenium Nanoparticles (Se-NPs) and Selenium nanocomposites (Se-NCs) have different biological effects. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effects of Selenium Nanoparticles and Selenium nanocomposites (Se –, NCs) on anxiety, food intake, and brain histology of rats. Materials & Methods: Thirty-two male adult Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups. The control group received saline, the Selenium powder group received 1 mg/kg /day Selenium powder orally for 21 days, and the Selenium nanoparticle group received three weeks of oral gavage of Se –, NPs. The Selenium nanocomposites group received three weeks of oral gavage of nanocomposites. Finally, cumulative food consumption and anxiety-like behaviors were assessed, and, after that, rats were bled and sacrificed for further biochemical and histopathological investigations. Results: Oral administration of Se powder at a dose of 1 mg/kg /day for 21 days had no significant effect on the brain superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities. There was also no significant change in the levels of brain glutathione concentration (GSH), brain MDA, and behavioral parameters. Selenium Nanoparticles also showed no significant alterations in brain biochemical parameters, behavioral effects, and brain histology. The oral administration of Selenium nanocomposites significantly increased brain superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione content and had positive effects on behavioral parameters. Conclusion: The present study showed that Se-NCs have behavioral effects and could induce significant biochemical changes in brain oxidative status.

Extensive research on the nutritional and medical application of Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs) was performed in past decades. Besides nutritional values, new characteristics such as antibacterial and anticancer properties depict a bright future for high Selenium (Se) consumption in the coming years. Se is essential for the proper functioning of most of the major body organ systems meanwhile it could be highly toxic and even cancerous. The current knowledge of Se interaction with major organ systems functionality such as the central nervous system isn’ t well studied and many physiological aspects aren’ t clear to the science community. Meanwhile, various results were published on increasing organ system functionality through administrated SeNPs. So with the rapid entrance of SeNPs in the medical and nutritional industry, it may cause unintended complications. The intent of this review is to investigate current knowledge of SeNPs interaction with major body organ systems functionality. Investigated pharmacokinetic parameters of SeNPs was also reviewed...