Abstract To investigate the effects of Selenium (Se) deficiency on testis development and autophagy in chicks. 20 1-day old cocks were randomly divided into two groups, named the control check (CK) group [a basic diet (containing 0.333 mg Se/kg) was fed] and the Se-deficiency (Low Se) group [a selenium deficiency diet (containing 0.033 mg Se/kg) was supplied]. After 30 days, the body and testicle weights of the chicks were measured, and the organ coefficient was calculated. While haematoxylin–eosin staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, colorimetric method was used to assess the histopathological changes of testis, the changes of sex hormone levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities in two groups of chicks, respectively, the mRNA and protein expression of autophagy-related factors in the testes was determined by using quantitative PCR and western blotting. We found that Se deficiency resulted in a significant decrease in body and testicle weights of the chicks, a reduction in organ coefficients, and damaged testis tissue. The levels of sex hormone testosterone, oestradiol, the activities of serum antioxidant enzymes T-AOC, GSH-ST and GSH-PX in the Low-Se group were significantly lower than those in the CK group. Furthermore, the level of autophagy was significantly increased in the Low-Se group compared with the CK counterpart. The mRNA levels of Beclin1, Dynein, ATG-4B, ATG5, LC3-A and LC3-B genes in the Low-Se group were significantly higher than those in the CK group, while the protein expression of ATG5 and LC3-B was significantly increased in the Low-Se group compared with the CK counterpart. These data indicates dietary selenium-deprived chicks exhibit poor testicular development, impaired sex hormone synthesis, reduced antioxidant enzyme activity, and increased mRNA and protein expression of autophagy-related factors. HIGHLIGHTS Se-deprived chicks display poor testicular development, impaired sex hormone synthesis, reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes, and increased mRNA and protein levels of autophagy-related factors.

中文翻译：

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硒缺乏对雏鸡睾丸发育和自噬的影响

摘要 研究硒（Se）缺乏对雏​​鸡睾丸发育和自噬的影响。20只1日龄公鸡随机分为两组，分别称为对照检查（CK）组[饲喂基础日粮（含0.333 mg Se/kg）]和缺硒（Low Se）组[缺硒提供饮食（含 0.033 毫克硒/千克）]。30天后测量雏鸡体重和睾丸重量，计算器官系数。采用苏木精-伊红染色、酶联免疫吸附法、比色法分别评价两组雏鸡睾丸组织病理学变化、性激素水平变化和抗氧化酶活性。采用定量PCR和蛋白质印迹法测定睾丸中自噬相关因子的mRNA和蛋白表达。我们发现硒缺乏导致雏鸡体重和睾丸重量显着下降，器官系数降低，睾丸组织受损。Low-Se组性激素睾酮、雌二醇、血清抗氧化酶T-AOC、GSH-ST和GSH-PX的活性显着低于CK组。此外，与 CK 组相比，低硒组的自噬水平显着增加。Low-Se 组 Beclin1、Dynein、ATG-4B、ATG5、LC3-A 和 LC3-B 基因的 mRNA 水平显着高于 CK 组，而与CK对应物相比，Low-Se组中ATG5和LC3-B的蛋白表达显着增加。这些数据表明，日粮缺硒的雏鸡睾丸发育不良，性激素合成受损，抗氧化酶活性降低，自噬相关因子的 mRNA 和蛋白质表达增加。亮点 缺硒雏鸡睾丸发育不良，性激素合成受损，抗氧化酶活性降低，自噬相关因子的 mRNA 和蛋白质水平增加。