Histopathological changes due to the effect of selenium in experimental cockerels

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Selenium usually acts as an antioxidant at optimal levels in the body and increased levels are toxic. In this study an attempt was made to evaluate the effect of an optimum dose (0.14 mg) of selenium on histopathological changes in experimental hypercholesterolemia in cockerels. METHODS: The effect of selenium (0.14 mg) was investigated on histopathological changes in four tissues namely liver, kidney, heart, and descending aorta in cockerel animal model. Animals were either fed with stock diet (group C), stock diet with cholesterol (group CH), stock diet with selenium (group Se), stock diet, selenium and cholesterol (group CH+Se) for six months. Animals were sacrified and the tissues were isolated and subjected to histopathological study. RESULTS: Xanthochromatic collections in liver were observed in group CH; hydropic degeneration in group Se and lobular disarray, hydropic degeneration and kuppfer cell hyperplasia in group CH+Se were observed. In kidney, mild mononuclear infiltration was observed in interstitium in groups CH, Se and CH+Se. myocyte disruption, and mononuclear infiltration in group CH and CH+Se, and disruption of muscle bundles with vascular congestion in group Se were observed. Smooth muscle proliferation in the media of blood vessel was observed in groups CH, Se and CH+Se. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggested that the optimum dose of (140 μg/day) feeding induced atherogenesis by inflammation and smooth muscle proliferation in cockerels with experimentally induced hypercholesterolaemia.