Effect of sub-chronic exposure to selenium and astaxanthin on Channa argus: Bioaccumulation, oxidative stress and...

Selenium (Se) is the most common micronutrient and that becomes toxic when present at higher concentrations in aquatic environments. Astaxanthin (AST) has been documented to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of dietary AST and Se exposure on oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in Channa argus. After acclimation, 540 fish were randomly distributed into nine groups housed in twenty-seven glass tanks. The fish were exposed for 8 weeks to waterborne Se at 0, 100 and 200 μg L^-1 or dietary AST at 0, 50 and 100 mg kg^-1. The results shown that Se accumulation in the kidney, liver, spleen, intestine and gill were significantly increased following Se exposure, dietary 50 and 100 mg kg^-1 AST supplementation decreased the accumulation of Se in the kidney, liver, spleen, and intestine. In addition, AST supplementation can decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the liver and spleen following exposure to waterborne Se. These results indicate that AST has the potential to alleviate the effects of Se toxicity in C. argus.