ARS | Publication request: Microarray analysis of gene expression in boars supplemented with organic selenium

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 13, 2007
Publication Date: February 15, 2008
Citation: Speight, S.M., Estienne, M.J., Harper, A.F., Barb, C.R. 2008. Microarray analysis of gene expression in boars supplemented with organic selenium. American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting. Abstract 59. p. 16.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare gene expression in boars fed diets supplemented with selenium from either organic or inorganic sources. Crossbred boars (n = 15) had ad libitum access to one of three diets since weaning at 28d of age, I) a basal diet with no supplemental selenium (controls), II) basal diet supplemented with 0.3 ppm organic selenium (Sel-Plex; Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY) and, III) basal diet supplemented with 0.3 ppm sodium selenite (Premium Selenium 270; North American Nutrition Co., Inc., Lewisburg, OH) (n = 5 boars /treatment). At the end of the grow-finish phase (average BW = 137 kg), the boars were transported to the University of Georgia for slaughter. Testis parenchyma from the right testis was removed immediately after sacrifice, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and transferred to -80'C for subsequent microarray analysis. Total RNA was isolated from testis using organic extraction and the RNeasy column protocol (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Affymetrix Gene Chip Porcine Genome Arrays were processed at Yerkes Microarray Core at Emory University in Atlanta, GA using standard Affymetrix protocols (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). No significant differences (P> 0.05) in key genes that regulate testis development and function such as steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), FSH-receptor LHCG-receptor and testis enhanced gene transcript (TEGT) were found between the three dietary treatments. The mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of organic selenium on growth and reproductive performance in boars remain to be determined.