Improved fetal hair follicle development by maternal supplement of selenium at nano size (Nano-Se)

To investigate the effect of maternal and dietary selenium on antioxidant status and hair follicle development in 110-day fetal skin from cashmere goats, eighty selected cashmere goats (n = 80) were randomly divided in two groups, C group (fed with the basal diet) and S group (fed with the basal diet with 0.5 mg/kg Nano-Se). Nano-Se was supplemented from 30 days prior to gestation to fetal day 110. Samples of fetus on day 110 have shown that the expression of GSH-Px, IGF-1 and IGF-1R, as well as the activities of GSH-Px and SOD, were significantly higher in S group than those in C group. The MDA level was significantly lower in S group. The concentrations of IGF-1, Se and T-AOC in both fetal serum and skin were significantly increased in S group. Weights of fetal liver and kidney tissues were also significantly increased in S group. Histology assay indicated that there was no significant difference in the number of primary hair follicles between the two groups. However, the number of secondary hair follicles and the secondary to primary follicle (S/P) ratio was significantly higher in S group than those in C group, indicating that the Nano-Se supplement could promote the development of secondary follicles. Our results demonstrate that maternal supplement of Nano-Se could influence antioxidant status in the fetal skin, the resulted low ROS could up-regulate IGF-1 and IGF-1R, which improve the fetal hair follicle development and promote the growth development of fetal. Results of present study suggest that maternal dietary supplements of Nano-Se during gestation could be used to improve the hair follicle development and promote growth development in Cashmere goat fetus.