Parental selenium nutrition on anti-oxidant status and epigenetic effects in progeny
Selenium has gained interest in both animal and human nutrition in the recent years due to a growing interest in shifting to plant based diets. Selenoproteins are essential for antioxidant metabolism; and Se as a regulator of epigenetic mechanisms is beginning to be realised. Diet is the major source of Se; traditionally, fish meal and meat based diets have supplied Se in the diets of animals and humans, respectively. Plant based ingredients contain low Se levels compared to fish/meat. The need to replace fish meal in fish/animal feeds and growing interest in plant-based diets for human nutrition means that dietary Se supply is lower and less bioavailable. This study is therefore designed to investigate the impact of Se supplementation either as an inorganic or organic source to a plant based diet on, (i) the anti-oxidant status and reproductive performance in parental generation (ii) epigenetic changes and interaction with dietary Se supplementation in the F1 generation.
The study will enable (i) generation of fundamental data on the essentiality/benefits of dietary Se supplementation in plant diets. (ii) As zebrafish is a well-accepted vertebrate model, the findings will have a much broader significance, including human nutrition. (iii) Zebrafish with its short life cycle will enable to monitor the effects up to F2 generation in a span of 6 months, which is otherwise improbable to achieve using salmonids over complete lifecycle. (iv) Potential to improve the performance of sustainable (low or no marine derived ingredients) feeds used in aquaculture.
The use of living organisms is unavoidable (Replace). Zebrafish will be used in the study. Nevertheless, the study is planned following the principle of reduction and still ensure a sufficient sampling size for good scientific output (Reduce). In the two generations involved in this study, a combined number of 3114 fish will be used. The zebrafish will be housed in standard recirculation system (28.5°C, pH 7.6, 10% daily exchange rate and 14h light: 10h dark) and food intake will be monitored during the experiment (Refine). The stress to be encountered by the fish is considered as minimal.
The study will enable (i) generation of fundamental data on the essentiality/benefits of dietary Se supplementation in plant diets. (ii) As zebrafish is a well-accepted vertebrate model, the findings will have a much broader significance, including human nutrition. (iii) Zebrafish with its short life cycle will enable to monitor the effects up to F2 generation in a span of 6 months, which is otherwise improbable to achieve using salmonids over complete lifecycle. (iv) Potential to improve the performance of sustainable (low or no marine derived ingredients) feeds used in aquaculture.
The use of living organisms is unavoidable (Replace). Zebrafish will be used in the study. Nevertheless, the study is planned following the principle of reduction and still ensure a sufficient sampling size for good scientific output (Reduce). In the two generations involved in this study, a combined number of 3114 fish will be used. The zebrafish will be housed in standard recirculation system (28.5°C, pH 7.6, 10% daily exchange rate and 14h light: 10h dark) and food intake will be monitored during the experiment (Refine). The stress to be encountered by the fish is considered as minimal.