The protective effect of nnano-selenium against cadmium-induced cerebellar injury via the heat shock protein pathway in chicken.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the toxic environmental heavy metals that poses health hazard to animals due to its toxicity. Nano-Selenium (Nano-Se) is a Nano-composite form of Se, which has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for its protective roles against heavy metals-induced toxicity. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a critical role in cellular homeostasis. However, the potential protective effects of Nano-Se against Cd-induced cerebellar toxicity remain to be illustrated. To investigate the toxic effects of Cd on chicken's cerebellum, and the protective effects of Nano-Se against Cd-induced cerebellar toxicity, a total of 80 male chicks were divided into four groups and treated as follows: (A) 0 mg/kg Cd, (B) 1 mg/kg Nano-Se (C) 140 mg/kg Cd + 1 mg/kg Nano-Se (D) 140 mg/kg Cd for 90 days. We tested heat shock protein pathway-related factors including heat shock factors (HSFs) HSF1, HSF2, HSF3 and heat shock proteins (HSPs) HSP10, HSP25, HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 expressions. Histopathological results showed that Cd treatment caused degradation of Purkinje cells. In addition, HSFs and HSPs expression decreased significantly in the Cd group. Nano-Se co-treatment with Cd enhanced the expression of HSFs and HSPs. In summary, our findings explicated a potential protective effect of Nano-Se against Cd-induced cerebellar injury in chicken, suggesting that Nano-Se is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of Cd toxicity. Cd can be absorbed to chickens through the food chain, eventually caused cerebellar injury. However, Nano-Se attenuated cerebellar injury induced by Cd. This study indicated that the cerebellum is the target organ of Cd-induced cerebellar injury. Chronic and high-dose Cd treatment caused blurring nucleolus and degradation of Purkinje cell. In addition, HSFs and HSPs expression were decreased significantly, However, supplementation of Nano-Se exerts protective function against chronic Cd-induced cerebellar injury through activating heat shock protein pathway. [Display omitted] • Cerebellum is the target organ of Cd toxicity. • Cd inhibited heat shock protein pathway in cerebellum. • Nano-Se activated the heat shock protein pathway that alleviated cerebellar injury. • Nano-Se is a promising candidate for the treatment of Cd toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]