Cardiometabolic response of juvenile rainbow trout exposed to dietary selenomethionine.

Selenium (Se) is considered an essential trace element, involved in important physiological and metabolic functions for all vertebrate species. Fish require dietary concentrations of 0.1-0.5 µg Se/g dry mass (d.m.) to maintain normal physiological and selenoprotein function, however concentrations exceeding 3 µg/g d.m. have been shown to cause toxicity. As Se is reported to have a narrow margin between essentiality and toxicity, there is growing concern surrounding the adverse effects of elevated Se exposure caused by anthropogenic activities. Previous studies have reported that elevated dietary exposure of fish to selenomethionine (Se-Met) can cause significant cardiotoxicity and alter aerobic metabolic capacity, energy homeostasis and swimming performance. The goal of this study aims to further investigate mechanisms of sublethal Se-Met toxicity, particularly potential underlying cardiovascular and metabolic implications of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of dietary Se-Met in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Juvenile rainbow trout were fed either control food (1.3 µg Se/g d.m.) or Se-Met spiked food (6.4, 15.8 or 47.8 µg Se/g d.m.) for 60 d at 3% body weight per day. Following exposure, ultrahigh resolution B-mode and Doppler ultrasound was used to characterize cardiac function in vivo. Chronic dietary exposure to Se-Met significantly increased stroke volume, cardiac output, and ejection fraction. Fish fed with Se-Met spiked food had elevated liver glycogen and triglyceride stores, suggesting impaired energy homeostasis. Exposure to Se-Met significantly decreased mRNA abundance of citrate synthase (CS) in liver and serpin peptidase inhibitor, clad H1 (SERPINH) in heart, and increased mRNA abundance of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) and key cardiac remodelling enzyme matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in heart. Taken together, these responses are consistent with a compensatory cardiac response to increased susceptibility to oxidative stress, namely a decrease in ventricular stiffness and improved cardiac function. These cardiac alterations in trout hearts were linked to metabolic disruption in other major metabolic tissues (liver and skeletal muscle), impaired glucose tolerance with increased levels of the toxic glucose metabolite, methylglyoxal, increased lipid peroxidation in skeletal muscle, development of cataracts and prolonged feeding behaviour, indicative of visual impairment. Therefore, although juvenile rainbow trout hearts were apparently able to functionally compensate for adverse metabolic and anti-oxidant changes after chronic dietary exposure Se-Met, complications associated with hyperglycemia in mammalian species were evident and would threaten survival of juvenile and adult fish.

Cardiac and Metabolic Effects of Dietary Selenomethionine Exposure in Adult Zebrafish.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient involved in important metabolic functions for all vertebrate species. As Se is reported to have a narrow margin between essentiality and toxicity, there is growing concern surrounding the adverse effects of elevated Se exposure caused by anthropogenic activities. Recent studies have reported that elevated dietary exposure of fish to selenomethionine (Se-Met) can alter aerobic metabolic capacity, energetics and swimming performance. This study aims to further investigate mechanisms of sublethal Se-Met toxicity, particularly potential underlying cardiovascular implications of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of dietary Se-Met in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Adult zebrafish were fed either control food (1.1 µg Se/g dry mass [d.m.]) or Se-Met spiked food (10.3 or 28.8 µg Se/g d.m.) for 90 d at 5% body weight per day. Following exposure, ultrahigh resolution B-mode and Doppler ultrasound was used to characterize cardiac function. Chronic dietary exposure to elevated Se-Met significantly reduced ventricular contractile rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output. Exposure to Se-Met significantly decreased mRNA expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 1 alpha and glutathione-S-transferase pi class in liver, and a key cardiac remodelling enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase 2, in adult zebrafish heart. Se-Met significantly increased echodensity at the junction between atrium and ventricle, and these results combined with increased matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression are consistent with cardiac remodelling and fibrosis. The results of this study suggest that chronic exposure to dietary Se-Met can negatively impact cardiac function, and such physiological consequences could reduce the aerobic capacity and survivability of fish.

Effects of Chronic Dietary Selenomethionine Exposure on the Visual System of Adult and F1 Generation Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

The effects of chronic dietary selenomethionine (SeMet) exposure on the visual system of adult zebrafish and their progeny were investigated. Adult zebrafish were exposed to measured concentrations of 1.1 (control) and 10.3 µg Se/g dry mass as SeMet for 57 days, then encouraged to breed. Progeny were reared to swim-up and differences in mortality, eye size and visual behaviour were determined. Adult vision was also investigated using behavioural assays. Adults fed the SeMet-spiked diet exhibited significantly fewer positive reactions in the escape response assay when compared to controls. Larvae from adults fed elevated SeMet had smaller eyes and a lower proportion of positive responses in phototaxis, oculomotor and optokinetic response assays compared to controls. These results demonstrate that environmentally relevant elevated dietary SeMet exposure can affect the visual system of both exposed adult zebrafish and their progeny, which could affect fitness and survivability.