Dietary supplementation with different nano and organic selenium doses improves ovarian activity, fertility rate, and progesterone level in Ossimi ewes

Figures & data

Table 1. Chemical composition of the experimental diet.

Nutrients % (DM basis)	Concentrate feed mixture (CFM)
Dry matter (DM)	90.77
Organic matter (OM)	88.27
Crude protein (CP)	10.39
Crude fibre (CF)	25.84
Ether extract (EE)	2.40
Nitrogen free extract (NFE)	49.64
Ash	11.73
Gross energy (MJ /Kg DM)	1.71

Figure 1. Ultrasonograms of genital tracts of non-pregnant ewes; (A–D) Sagittal section in the uterine horn, and uterine with clear hypoechogenicity, and scanty amount of fluid. (E–H) Follicular phase, large sized follicle (≤4mm), and small sized follicles (≤2mm). (J) Luteal phase, Corpus luteum, (≤0.5 mm).

Table 2. The follicular population (small and large follicles), diameter of corpora lutea, and of the uterine horns in control and treated groups after 48 h of sponge removal (n = 30, Mean ± SE).

Item	CG	SeG	N-SeG	SEM	p-value
Right ovary
Number of small follicles	2.800	2.200	2.670	0.350	.501
Diameter of small follicles (cm)	0.350	0.390	0.380	0.030	.598
Number of large follicles	1.400	1.600	1.830	0.240	.542
Diameter of large follicles (cm)	0.530	0.570	0.590	0.040	.443
Diameter of corpus luteum (cm)	0.790	0.870	1.000	0.140	.514
Diameter of uterine horn (cm)	1.860^b	1.830^b	2.500^a	0.150	.018
Left ovary
Number of small follicles	1.400^b	2.800^a	2.830^a	0.400	.040
Diameter of small follicles (cm)	0.340^b	0.380^a,b	0.410^a	0.020	.066
Number of large follicles	1.000^b	2.200^a	2.170^a	0.370	.042
Diameter of large follicles (cm)	0.540	0.590	0.600	0.050	.449
Diameter of corpus luteum (cm)	0.780^b	0.990^a,b	1.080^a	0.100	.099
Diameter of uterine horn (cm)	1.590	1.820	1.850	0.140	.644

^a,b Means with different superscripts in the same row are significantly different (p < .05).

ALT: alanine transaminase; AST: aspartate transaminase; CG: control; cm: centimeter; d: day; h: hour; N-SeG: nano selenium-treated group; se: selenium; SeG: organic selenium treated group; SEM: standard errors of mean.

Table 3. The follicular population (small and large follicles), diameter of corpora lutea, and of the uterine horns in control and treated groups after 72 h of sponge removal (n = 30, Mean ± SE).

Item	CG	SeG	N-SeG	SEM	p-value
Right ovary
Number of small follicles	2.200	2.200	1.830	0.380	.736
Diameter of small follicles (cm)	0.410	0.400	0.370	0.400	.354
Number of large follicles	0.800^b	1.400^a,b	1.500^a	0.220	.098
Diameter of large follicles (cm)	0.590^b	0.600^b	0.710^a	0.130	.000
Diameter of corpus luteum (cm)	1.000^b	1.830^a	1.140^a,b	0.130	.004
Diameter of uterine horn (cm)	1.860^b	1.930^b	2.670^a	0.160	.017
Left ovary
Number of small follicles	2.750	2.400	3.000	0.280	.619
Diameter of small follicles (cm)	0.380	0.380	0.400	0.380	.671
Number of large follicles	1.400	1.200	1.200	0.210	.756
Diameter of large follicles (cm)	0.630^b	0.670^b	0.690^a	0.010	.065
Diameter of corpus luteum (cm)	1.160^b	0.940^a,b	1.250^a	0.050	.059
Diameter of uterine horn (cm)	1.850^b	1.820^b	2.700^a	0.120	.001

^a,b Means with different superscripts in the same row are significantly different (p < .05).

ALT: alanine transaminase; AST: aspartate transaminase; CG: control; cm: centimeter; d: day; h: hour; N-SeG: nano selenium-treated group; se: selenium; SeG: organic selenium treated group; SEM: standard errors of mean.

Table 4. Oestrous duration, onset, response and fertility rate in control and treated groups (n = 30, Mean ± SE).

Item	CG	SeG	N-SeG	SEM	p-value
Oestrus duration (hours)	29.600^b	39.000^a	38.100^a	1.170	.044
Oestrus onset (hours)	73.350^a	54.300^b	52.950^b	3.750	.039
Oestrus response (%)	(6/10) 60^b	(9/10) 90^a	(910) 90^a	0.090	.000
Fertility rate (%)	(5/10) 50^b	(8/10) 80^a	(8/10) 80^a	0.110	.000

^a,b Means with different superscripts in the same row are significantly different (p < .05).

ALT: alanine transaminase; AST: aspartate transaminase; CG: control; cm: centimeter; d: day; h: hour; N-SeG: nano selenium-treated group; se: selenium; SeG: organic selenium treated group; SEM: standard errors of mean.

Figure 2. Ultrasonograms of genital tracts of pregnant ewes; (A–C) Pregnant ewe at 35th day, (D) beginning of ossification in the head; pregnant ewe at 60th–70th day, (E,F) all foetal parts are clear, umbilical cord; pregnant ewe at 60th–70th day, (G, H) placentome, (J) ribs shadow, heart location.

Table 5. The measurements of the placentomes, chest, bipartitely diameter, and orbit in control and treated groups at 60–70 d after mating (n = 6/group, Mean ± SE).

Item	CG	SeG	N-SeG	SEM	p-value
Diameter of placentome (cm)	3.140	3.410	3.150	0.180	.583
Diameter of chest (cm)	4.160^b	5.050^a^,b	5.960^a	0.300	.004
Diameter of orbit (cm)	1.830	1.740	2.030	0.110	.393
Diameter of biparital (cm)	3.100	3.200	3.200	0.140	.825

^a,b Means with different superscripts in the same row are significantly different (p < .05).

ALT: alanine transaminase; AST: aspartate transaminase; CG: control; cm: centimeter; d: day; h: hour; N-SeG: nano selenium-treated group; se: selenium; SeG: organic selenium treated group; SEM: standard errors of mean.

Table 6. Progesterone concentration (ng/mL) in the control and treated groups during oestrous days and pregnancy months (n = 30 ewes. Mean ± SE).

Item	CG	SeG	N-SeG	SEM	p-value
Progesterone concentration (ng/mL) after IVS removal
After 24 h	0.060^b	0.090^a	0.090^a	0.010	.032
After 48 h	0.440^b	1.070^a	0.910^a	0.080	.019
After 72 h	0.730^b	1.090^a^,b	1.230^a	0.060	.052
After 96 h	1.140^c	1.370^b	1.820^a	0.060	.000
Progesterone concentration during pregnancy months
1st month	3.340	3.240	3.910	0.680	.757
2nd month	6.460	7.430	7.570	0.760	.771
3rd month	11.230	11.300	13.080	0.550	.421
4th month	15.980	16.810	18.760	0.102	.197
5th month	18.830^b	19.800^b	24.520^a	0.870	.060

^a,b Means with different superscripts in the same row are significantly different (p < .05).

ALT: alanine transaminase; AST: aspartate transaminase; CG: control; cm: centimeter; d: day; h: hour; N-SeG: nano selenium-treated group; se: selenium; SeG: organic selenium treated group; SEM: standard errors of mean.

Table 7. Serum Biochemical parameters in the control and treated groups during oestrous days after 0, 24, 48, and 72 h of sponge removal (n = 30 ewes. Mean ± SE).

Item	CG	SeG	N-SeG	SEM	p-value
Se concentration
0 d	40.620	41.620	42.010	0.520	.514
After 24 h	43.190^b	68.060^a	63.130^a	0.490	.000
After 48 h	44.440^b	71.190^a	66.130^a	0.160	.000
After 72 h	46.130^b	75.250^a	68^a	0.500	.000
ALT concentration
0 d	40.250	41.180	38.180	0.590	.461
After 24 h	43.050	43.880	43.330	0.960	.125
After 48 h	43.330^b	42.030^b	50.530^a	0.600	.032
After 72 h	44.470^b	42.830^b	49.230^a	0.560	.046
AST concentration
0 d	15.030	14.330	14.270	0.490	.352
After 24 h	17.410	18.160	15.460	0.730	.524
After 48 h	20.380^b	23.070^a	22.380^a	0.850	.021
After 72 h	22.010^b	27.800^a	25.530^a	0.520	.001
Urea concentration
0 d	22.750	22.620	22.500	0.020	.541
After 24 h	19.170	20	21.330	0.090	.625
After 48 h	21	19	19.170	0.120	.094
After 72 h	21.010	22.670	23.330	0.150	.051

^a,b Means with different superscripts in the same row are significantly different (p < .05).

ALT: alanine transaminase; AST: aspartate transaminase; CG: control; cm: centimeter; d: day; h: hour; N-SeG: nano selenium-treated group; se: selenium; SeG: organic selenium treated group; SEM: standard errors of mean.

Data availability statement

Raw data were generated at the Experimental Sheep Farm belonging to the Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt. Data availability statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.