Selenium, an essential trace element with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, significantly reduced mRNA expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, of caspase-1 and of inflammatory cytokines in Pb-treated chicken testes and kidneys [26,52] and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in rats with experimental varicocele [29]. The gene discussed is CASP1; the disease is varicocele.