Effects of dietary selenium and vitamin E on hepatic mixed-function oxidase activities and in vivo covalent binding of aflatoxin B1 in rats

Male weanling fischer-344 rats were fed a selenium (Se)-vitamin E (VE) deficient Torula yeast basal diet or that diet supplemented with a graded levels of SE (0.2-6.0 ppm as Na2SeO3) or VE (100 iu/kg as all-rac-2-tocopheryl acetate), or both, for 4 or 6 weeks. Se deficiency and excess (6.0 ppm) markedly depressed in vivo covalent binding of aflatoxin (AFB1) to macromolecules in livers of rats killed 2 hours after an i.p. dose of 1 mg/kg tritiated AFB1. VE supplementation had no effect. Prior phenobarbital (PB) treatment generally decreased adducts without changing diet-related trends. Some hepatic enzyme capabilities were also measured. Cytochrome b5 content and cytochrome c reductase activity were unaffected by diet. VE increased cytochrome P-450 content, ethylmorphine N-demethylase and benz(alpha)pyrene hydroxylase activities; all these were unaffected by Se levels. Se deficiency and excess (but not VE deficiency) increased glucuronyl transferase. PB induction affected all diet groups and was more in agreement with MFO activity than transferase. Adduct formation was more consistently related to transferase activity than to MFO activities. The contrasting effects of SE and VE on AFB1 adducts in rats and chicks are discussed.     

Effect of lead and niacin on growth and serotonin metabolism in chicks

Interactions of lead and niacin were studied in growing broiler chicks fed one of four experimental diets from day-old to 3 wk of age. The diets were a low niacin basal diet (LN), the basal diet supplemented with 40 mg of niacin/kg (control), the basal diet supplemented with 2000 mg lead/kg, as lead acetate (LN + Pb) and the basal diet supplemented with both niacin and lead (control + Pb). Growth and feed efficiency were reduced significantly by lead. The lead-associated growth depression was less severe in chicks fed the low niacin diet as indicated by a significant lead X niacin interaction. The relative weights of two brain regions (telencephalon and diencephalon) and the adrenal glands were greater in lead-treated chicks than in their nonlead-treated counterparts. Plasma and telencephalon tryptophan were lower in lead-treated chicks than in nonlead-treated chicks. Diencephalon tryptophan was lower in chicks fed the LN diet than in chicks fed the control diet. Brain serotonin was lower and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was higher in both brain regions of lead-treated chicks than in nonlead-treated chicks. The data indicate that tryptophan and serotonin metabolism were altered by lead treatment, whereas niacin was without effect. The interaction of lead and niacin on growth does not appear to be related to alterations of serotonin metabolism in the central nervous system.     

Effect of a mixture of conjugated linoleic acid isomers on growth performance and antibody production in broiler chicks

The effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers mixture on antibody titres against sheep blood erythrocytes (SRBC) and immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration in plasma was studied in broiler chickens. In experiment 1, male and female broiler chicks (11 d of age, Cobb strain) were fed a diet supplemented with 10 g CLA or 10 g safflower-seed oil/kg diet for 2 weeks. An SRBC suspension (5:100, v/v) in a phosphate buffer was intravenously injected at 18 d of age and a blood sample was taken from the wing vein at 25 d of age. Chicks fed the CLA-supplemented diet had enhanced first antibody titres in plasma to SRBC as compared with those fed the safflower-seed oil-supplemented diet, irrespective of sex differences. In experiment 2, male broiler chicks (8 d of age, Ross strain) were fed a basal diet or a diet containing 10 g CLA/kg diet for 3 weeks. CLA in the CLA diet partially replaced the soyabean oil in the basal diet. The SRBC suspension was intravenously injected at 15 and 25 d of age and a blood sample was obtained at 21 and 29 d of age. The first antibody titres against SRBC were higher in chicks fed the CLA diet than those in chicks fed the basal diet, but the second titres were not. Plasma IgG concentrations in chicks fed the CLA diet were higher than those in chicks fed the basal diet on both sampling days. The results showed that dietary CLA enhanced antibody production in broiler chickens.     

Dietary supplementation of glycine modulates inflammatory response indicators in broiler chickens

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary glycine (Gly) supplementation on inflammatory responses in broiler chicks fed a basal diet using maize and soybean meal as the primary ingredients. Inflammation-related processes following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection were examined by analysing plasma concentrations of nitrate plus nitrite (NOx) and ceruloplasmin (Cer) in experiments 1 and 2, or expression of several genes in the spleen and liver including IL-1 beta and -6, TNF-like ligand (TL)1A, inducible NO synthase, interferon (IFN)-gamma and toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 were examined in experiment 3. Growth performance was also determined following immunological stimulation by both LPS and Sephadex injection in experiment 2. In experiment 1, birds fed a diet supplemented with Gly at 10 or 20 g/kg showed lower responses in plasma NOx and Cer than birds fed the diet supplemented with Gly at 0 or 40 g/kg. In experiment 2, a similar effect of Gly supplementation at 10 g/kg on plasma NOx and Cer was observed when chicks were fed either an isonitrogenous diet with Gly or glutamic acid (Glu). Gly-supplemented diet-fed birds showed better growth performance than Glu-supplemented diet-fed birds. The splenic expression of inflammatory response-related genes in birds fed a diet supplemented with Gly at 10 g/kg diet was lower than that of birds fed the basal diet in experiment 3. These results suggest that dietary Gly supplementation modulates the inflammatory response partly through changes in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, IFN-gamma and TL1A.     

碱式氯化铜对平养肉鸡生长性能、饲粮中维生素E和植酸酶稳定性的影响

目的研究饲粮中添加硫酸铜(CuSO4)和碱式氯化铜(tribasic Cu chloride,TBCC)对平养肉仔鸡生长性能、饲粮中维生素E和植酸酶的氧化稳定性及铜(Cu)的混合均匀度的影响。方法试验采用2×4因子的完全随机设计,把840只1日龄AA肉公鸡随机分为7个处理组,每组6个重复,每个重复20只。分别饲喂玉米-豆粕型基础饲粮(含Cu10.20mg/kg)和在基础饲粮基础上分别以CuSO4和TBCC形式添加100、150和200mg/kgCu的饲粮。试验期21d。结果添加200mg/kgCu的TBCC组鸡的日增重显著高于其余各组;添加100mg/kgCu的TBCC组鸡的肝脏和血浆VE含量显著高于CuSO4组,TBCC组饲粮中VE含量明显高于CuSO4组;TBCC组饲粮中植酸酶活性有高于CuSO4组的趋势;TBCC组鸡肝脏中Cu含量低于CuSO4组;TBCC组饲粮中Cu的混合均匀度好于CuSO4处理组。结论饲粮添加TBCC比CuSO4更能有效促进平养肉仔鸡的生长,更能减少饲粮中VE的氧化,生物安全性明显高于CuSO4。     

The selenium deficiency disease exudative diathesis in chicks is associated with downregulation of seven common selenoprotein genes in liver and muscle

Fast-growing broiler chicks are susceptible to Se deficiency diseases including exudative diathesis (ED). Our objective was to determine if ED could be induced by feeding a current, practical diet and if the incidence was related to selenogenome expression in liver and muscle of chicks. Four groups of day-old broiler chicks (n = 60/group) were fed a corn-soy basal diet (BD; 14 μg Se/kg; produced in the Se-deficient area of Sichuan, China and not supplemented with Se or vitamin E), the BD and all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate at 50 mg/kg and Se (as sodium selenite) at 0.3 mg/kg, or both of these nutrients for 6 wk. A high incidence of ED and mortality of chicks were induced by the BD. The incidences and mortality were completely prevented by supplemental dietary Se but were only partially decreased by supplemental α-tocopherol acetate. Dietary Se deficiency decreased (P < 0.05) mRNA levels of 7 common selenoprotein genes (Gpx1, Gpx4, Sepw1, Sepn1, Sepp1, Selo, and Selk) in muscle and liver. Whereas supplementing α-tocopherol acetate enhanced (P < 0.05) only the muscle Sepx1 mRNA level, it actually decreased (P < 0.05) hepatic Gpx1, Seli, Txnrd1, and Txnrd2 mRNA levels. In conclusion, dietary Se protected chicks from the Se deficiency disease ED, probably by upregulating selenoprotein genes coding for oxidation- and/or lesion-protective proteins. The protection by vitamin E might be mediated via selenoproteins not assayed in this study and/or Se-independent mechanisms. The inverse relationship between hepatic expression of 4 redox-related selenoprotein genes and vitamin E status revealed a novel interaction between Se and vitamin E in vivo.     

Effect of intermittent supplementation with selenate on selenium status of rats fed selenium-deficient diet

To examine the selenium (Se) status of rats intermittently supplemented with Se, we measured tissue Se contents and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in rats fed a Se-deficient diet intermittently supplemented with selenate. In experiment 1, four groups of male 4-wk-old Wistar rats were fed a Torula yeast-based Se-deficient diet (Se content, < 0.01 microg/g) for 28 d. During the experimental period, the diet of each group was supplemented with sodium selenate (0.17 microg Se/g) for 0, 1, 2 or 7 d/wk. The tissue Se contents and GPx activities both increased gradually with an increase in frequency of the selenate supplementation, and significant linear regressions were observed between the frequency and these Se indices. In particular, the correlation coefficient in the liver and plasma indices was nearly equal to a value of 1.0. In experiment 2, three groups of rats were fed the Se-deficient basal diet for 28 d. Among these, one group was daily supplemented with sodium selenate to the Se-deficient diet at a level of 0.17 microg Se/g, and another group was intermittently supplemented with the selenate at a level of 1.19 microg Se/g for 1 d/wk. The tissue Se contents and GPx activities both were increased by the selenate supplementation and no significant difference was observed between daily and weekly supplementation in the Se indices except in erythrocyte Se. These results indicate that Se status in the growth period is dependent on total Se intake in this period and that weekly intermittent supplementation with Se can maintain adequate Se status.     

膳食维生素B_6对硒的生物利用率影响的研究──Ⅲ．对成年大鼠组织中硒和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶水平的影响

１２周龄雄性大鼠饲缺维生素Ｂ６（ＶＢ６）缺硒酪蛋白蔗糖基础膳食，３周后按体重把动物分成６组。分别喂饲三种膳食，即基础膳食、基础膳食中补充硒０．２５ｍｇ／ｋｇ的亚硒酸钠或ＤＬ－硒蛋氨酸，在此基础上每种膳食又分为补充（２．５μｇ／ｇ）或不补充盐酸吡哆醇两组。实验期为１４周。补Ｖ８６各组的红细胞和骨骼肌中硒水平和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）活性均显著高于相应缺ＶＢ６各组，ＶＢ６对饲亚硒酸钠大鼠肝硒和ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ水平没有影响；但当补充硒蛋氨酸时，与补ＶＢ６大鼠相比缺ＶＢ６大鼠的肝硒水平较高而ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活性则显著降低。这些研究结果进一步证明，ＶＢ６与血浆硒的转运和硒的利用有关，并且可能参与了硒蛋氨酸在肝脏中的代谢过程。     

Effects of Dietary Selenomethionine on Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri) Growth and Reproductive Performance Over a Life Cycle

A 2.5-year feeding trial was conducted in which cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri) were fed either a basal diet (1.2 μg Se/g diet) or the basal diet supplemented with 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 μg selenomethionine/g diet from 1 g weight to maturation. After 44 weeks of feeding, a subsample of fish was removed from dietary treatment groups and fed the basal diet for an additional 32 weeks. Concentrations of Se in whole fish and eggs increased in proportion to dietary Se intake, but no differences in growth, feed intake, survival, or egg hatchability were observed among dietary groups. Cranial–facial deformities in second-generation offspring were less than 6% in all treatment groups except for fish fed the diet supplemented with 4 μg selenomethionine/kg, for which a 9.2% incidence was observed. Fish switched from selenomethionine-supplemented diets to the basal diet lost Se, calculated as μg Se lost/g weight gain, at 1.01, 2.84, 4.42, and 4.42 for dietary treatment groups 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Results suggest no toxicity of dietary selenomethionine up to 10 μg/g supplemented diet and that with total life-cycle exposure, cutthroat trout increase Se excretion to maintain whole-body concentrations below toxic levels.     

维生素B6对硒的生物利用率影响的研究Ⅳ．对大鼠体内不同化学形式硒利用率及脂质过氧化物的影响

４周龄雄性大鼠饲缺维生素Ｂ６（ＶＢ６）缺硒酪蛋白蔗糖基础饲料，３周后按体重把动物分成１０组，即基础饲料组、基础饲料中补充含硒０．２５ｍｇ／ｋｇ饲料的硒酸钠组、亚硒酸钠组、ＤＬ－硒蛋氨酸组或硒胱氨酸组，在此基础上每种饲料又分成补充或不补充盐酸吡哆醇２．５０μｇ／ｇ饲料两组。实验期为４周。补ＶＢ６各组的红细胞、骨骼肌和心肌中硒水平和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）活性均显著高于相应缺ＶＢ６各组，ＶＢ６对饲硒酸钠、亚硒酸钠和硒胱氨酸大鼠肝硒和ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ水平没有影响；但当补充硒蛋氨酸时，与补ＶＢ６大鼠相比缺ＶＢ６大鼠的肝硒水平较高而ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活性显著降低。本研究结果进一步证明，ＶＢ６与血浆硒的转运和利用有关，并且参与了硒蛋氨酸在肝脏中的代谢过程     

硒和维生素E缺乏诱导大鼠肝细胞凋亡

目的　研究硒 (Se)和维生素 E(VE)缺乏对大鼠肝细胞的影响。方法　以天然低Se低 VE的克山病病区粮作为饲料进行动物试验 ,与人工半合成低 Se低 VE饲料的实验互相印证 ;用光镜、电镜、流式细胞术 (FCM)、末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的缺口末端标记 (TUNEL)、DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳 5种方法进行肝细胞凋亡检测。结果　无论天然饲料还是人工半合成饲料实验 ,低 Se低 VE组光镜下均可见较多肝细胞胞浆着色深 ,核浓缩。主要分布在中央静脉周围。电镜检查天然低 Se低 VE组可见较多肝细胞核体积缩小 ,核染色质呈块状聚集在核膜下。用流式细胞术检测 ,天然低 Se低 VE组较对照组肝细胞凋亡百分率明显增加 ,补 Se和 /或 VE使调亡百分率有所下降 ,以联合补充 Se和 VE凋亡百分率下降最明显。人工半合成饲料低 Se低 VE组凋亡百分率较高 ,补 Se和 /或 VE使凋亡百分率有所下降 ,但均未达到显著差异。无论天然饲料还是人工半合成饲料实验 ,低 Se低 VE组均可见较多 TUNEL染色阳性细胞 ,加 Se和 /或 VE可使上述改变的细胞有不同程度减少。DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳 ,无论天然还是人工半合成饲料实验低 Se低 VE组均可见 DNA梯状图象 ,其余各组未见梯状改变。结论　Se和 VE缺乏可诱导大鼠肝细胞凋亡     

The necessity of dietary vitamin B6 to selenium biopotency for tissue selenium and glutathione peroxidase in rats.

Necessity of dietary vitamin B6 to the biopotency of selenium (Se) for the levels of Se and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in tissues was investigated. Male Wistar 12-week-old rats were fed a vitamin B6-Se-deficient basal diet for 3 weeks, and then the rats were divided into 6 groups. One group was fed the basal diet, the others were fed the diet supplemented with 250 micrograms vitamin B6/100 g as pyridoxine.HCl, or 0.25 mg Se/kg as Na2SeO3 (SeL) or DL-selenomethionine (Se-Met), or both (SeL+B6 or Se-Met+B6) for 10 week. The levels of Se and GSH-Px in erythrocytes and muscle were significantly higher in vitamin B6-supplemented groups than in vitamin B6-deficient groups. There was little effect of this vitamin deficiency on Se level in liver of rats fed SeL; however, a higher Se level in liver was observed in vitamin B6-deficient rats fed Se-Met than in the corresponding B6-supplemented rats. A significant decrease of GSH-Px activity in liver was found in vitamin B6-deficient animals fed Se-Met compared with vitamin B6-supplemented animals, whereas no significant decrease was observed in those fed SeL. These results suggest that this vitamin is involved in the transport and deliverance of Se in plasma to the other tissues and the incorporation of Se from Se-Met to GSH-Px in liver.     

硒、维生素E对心肌胶原蛋白代谢的影响

目的：阐明硒（Ｓｅ）、维生素Ｅ（ＶＥ）与心肌胶原蛋白代谢的关系。方法：以病区粮（低Ｓｅ、低ＶＥ）喂养大鼠,并注射异丙基肾上腺素（ＩＳＯ）诱发心肌缺血缺氧性坏死,检测心肌中谷胱甘肽氧化酶（ＧＳＨ－ＰＸ）、过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）、丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）和胶原蛋白含量变化。结果：低Ｓｅ低ＶＥ组血浆和心肌ＧＳＨ－ＰＸ、ＣＡＴ活性下降,ＭＤＡ含量上升,与心肌胶原蛋白含量变化有相关性。补Ｓｅ补ＶＥ后,ＧＳＨ－ＰＸ、ＣＡＴ活性上升,ＭＤＡ水平下降,心肌胶原蛋白含量下降。结论：低Ｓｅ低ＶＥ加重ＩＳＯ诱发的心肌损伤,脂质过氧化和自由基与心肌胶原蛋白代谢关系密切。补Ｓｅ补ＶＥ后,能缓解心肌细胞对诱发因素所造成的损伤,对保护心肌细胞和防止心肌纤维化的形成具有一定作用。     

补充硒和维生素E对大鼠心肌腺苷酸含量及抗氧化损伤的研究

研究低硒（Ｓｅ）低维生素Ｅ（ＶＥ）膳食及补充Ｓｅ和ＶＥ后对大鼠心肌腺苷酸含量和氧化损伤的关系。方法：采用高效液相和生化方法分别测定心肌腺苷酸和ＭＤＡ含量、ＳＯＤ、ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活性。结果：与补充Ｓｅ和／或ＶＥ饮食大鼠相比,低Ｓｅ低ＶＥ饮食大鼠心肌ＡＭＰ、ＡＤＰ含量无明显差异,而ＡＴＰ含量明显降低,ＭＤＡ含量增加,ＳＯＤ、ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活性降低,表明Ｓｅ和ＶＥ影响ＡＴＰ含量与其抗氧化作用有关,而其中以联合补充Ｓｅ和ＶＥ效果最佳。结论：Ｓｅ和ＶＥ缺乏可使心肌呈现明显的氧化损伤,补充Ｓｅ和ＶＥ有助于抗氧化损伤,使ＡＴＰ生成增加。     

Uncomplicated selenium deficiency produced in chicks fed a corn-soy-based diet

Day-old chicks were fed a practical-type diet based on corn- and soybean meal produced in a severely Se-deficient area of northeastern China. The diet contained 0.007 ppm Se and resulted in marked decreases in the activities of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase in plasma and pancreas within 6 days of feeding. Chicks fed this basal diet showed histological signs of acinar atrophy of the pancreas, hyaline body formation, vacuolation and cytoplasmic shrinkage by 18 days and significantly elevated activities of amylase in plasma by 30 days. Each of these changes was prevented by supplementing the basal diet with Se to bring it to a level of 0.20 ppm. Chicks fed a Se-deficient purified diet based on crystalline amino acids also showed decreased Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activities in plasma and pancreas, pancreatic damage as evidenced by histological examination and increases in plasma amylase activities. However, these signs of nutritionally induced pancreatic atrophy occurred sooner and were of greater magnitude than those observed in Se-deficient chicks fed the practical diet within the 30-day experimental period. These results, therefore, constitute the first report of nutritionally induced pancreatic atrophy in Se-deficient chicks fed a diet containing intact protein, and we suggest that a factor(s) associated with the practical diet acts to partially protect the chicks from this pathological consequence of severe Se deficiency.     

An evaluation of the bioavailability of selenium in high-selenium yeast.

The bioavailability of selenium (Se) in high-Se yeast (SeY) was evaluated by measuring tissue Se accumulation and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity. For 4 weeks, 4-week-old male Wistar rats were fed a Torula yeast-based Se-deficient diet (basal diet) or a diet supplemented with a graded level (0.04, 0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 microgram/g) of Se as either sodium selenite or SeY, which was obtained from two different sources. Se supplementation did not influence growth, hematological values, or serum biochemical tests. Se contents and GSHPx activities in the liver, serum, and erythrocytes increased gradually with increases of the supplemented Se. At lower Se levels (0.04 and 0.08 microgram/g), selenite produced higher Se deposition and higher GSHPx activities than SeY did, but at a higher Se level (0.32 microgram/g), SeY showed higher measures. Strong correlations were detected between the supplementary Se levels and the tissue Se contents or GSHPX activities when the regression was fitted to this equation: R-Rb = m log X + k, where R represented tissue Se content or GSHPx activity in rats fed the diet supplemented with Se at X level, Rb corresponding mean value in rats fed the basal diet, m slope, and k constant. The bioavailability of Se in SeY, as assessed by slope ratio analysis using selenite as a reference Se, was 135% to 165% in the tissue Se content and 105% to 197% in the GSHPx activities. These results indicate that Se in SeY is more bioavailable than selenite Se, and therefore it is the preferred form for supplementation.     

Soy content of basal diets determines the effects of supplemental selenium in male mice

The effects of supplemental Se in rodent models may depend upon composition of the basal diet to which it is added. Wild-type male littermates of Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate mice were fed until 18 wk of age 1 of 2 Se-adequate stock diets high in soy (HS) or low in phytoestrogens (LP) or the same diets supplemented with 3.0 mg Se/kg diet as seleno-methylselenocysteine. Body and abdominal fat pad weights were lower (P < 0.01) in mice fed the HS diet. Supplemental Se reduced fat pad weights in mice receiving the LP diet but increased body and fat pad weights in mice consuming the HS formulation (P-interaction < 0.005). Serum free triiodothyronine concentrations were unaffected by supplemental Se in mice fed the LP diet but were decreased by Se supplementation of mice given the HS feed (P-interaction < 0.02). Free thyroxine concentrations were higher in mice consuming the HS diet regardless of Se intake (P < 0.001). Hepatic mRNA for iodothyronine deiodinase I was lower (P < 0.001) in mice fed the HS diet. Supplementation of Se increased this mRNA (P < 0.001) in both diet groups. Results from this study show a significant interaction between the composition of basal diets and the effects of supplemental Se with respect to body composition. These findings have important implications for future studies in rodent models of the effects of supplemental Se on heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions related to body weight and composition.     

Nutritional availability and chronic toxicity of selenocyanate in the rat

To evaluate nutritional availability and chronic toxicity of KSeCN, female postweanling rats were fed casein-based diets plus 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg Se/kg as KSeCN for 6 wk, or 0.1, 0.5 and 10 mg Se/kg as Na2SeO3. A control group was fed the basal diet (Se = 0.04 mg/kg) and one group was fed the basal diet plus 5 mg Se/L as KSeCN in the drinking water. There were no differences in weight gain and diet consumption among groups fed 2.5 mg Se/kg or less. At 5 and 10 mg Se/kg, rats showed depression in weight gain and diet consumption. After wk 6 there were no abnormalities of the major organs of rats fed 2.5 mg Se/kg or less. Spleen enlargement was observed at 5 and 10 mg Se/kg, and liver damage and kidney enlargement at 10 mg Se/kg. Se content in the blood, liver and kidney of rats fed KSeCN was generally somewhat lower than for those fed Na2SeO3 at the same levels. The availability of Se from KSeCN for glutathione peroxidase formation in blood, liver and kidney was comparable to that of Na2SeO3. Plasma thyroxine in groups fed 10 mg Se/kg was 40% of that in the control group, but was not altered at lower Se levels.     

Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase inhibitors increase toxicity of prooxidant compounds in chicks

The acute lethality of paraquat (1, 1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride; also methyl viologen) for chicks was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by adding to a selenium-deficient torula-yeast-based diet low concentrations (0.02-0.04 ppm) of selenium (Se) as either Na2SeO3, selenomethionine or a high Se yeast without significantly increasing plasma Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se GSH-Px) activity. Similarly, chicks orally dosed with 100 mg nitrofurantoin [N-(5-nitro-2 furfurylidine)-1-aminohydantoin] per kilogram had highest mortalities in the Se-deficient (unsupplemented) group; lowest mortalities occurred in chicks supplemented with 0.2 ppm Se; chicks supplemented with 0.02 ppm Se survived at rates not statistically different from chicks either unsupplemented or supplemented with 0.2 ppm Se. The activities of SeGSH-px in various vital organs were significantly elevated by supplementation of 0.2 ppm Se to Se-deficient chicks; but only kidney SeGSH-Px increased with 0.02 ppm Se. Additionally, no histopathology was observed in the vital organs of moribund chicks 5 or 24 h following nitrofurantoin administration at any dietary level of Se tested. Exposure of chicks to oxygen enhanced the toxicity of nitrofurantoin, but the protective effect of dietary Se was still evident. Two inhibitors of SeGSH-Px, D(-)-penicillamine X HCl and aurothioglucose, were found to increase the lethalities of both nitrofurantoin and paraquat. Aurothioglucose was most effective when administered simultaneously with the prooxidant compounds; penicillamine increased toxicities only when administered at least 24 h before paraquat or nitrofurantoin (it decreased nitrofurantoin lethality and did not significantly alter paraquat toxicity if given simultaneously). These data support an hypothesis that the protection offered by dietary Se against the acute toxicities of the prooxidant compounds paraquat and nitrofurantoin may be provided by SeGSH-Px in the chick.     

Influence of dietary vitamin E on nutritional pancreatic atrophy in selenium-deficient chicks

Studies were conducted to determine the relationship between dietary vitamin E (VE) and the development of nutritional pancreatic atrophy (NPA) in selenium (Se)-deficient chicks. Selenium- and VE-depleted chicks reared on a low Se, amino acid-based diet containing 100 IU VE (as all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) per kilogram were found to have exceedingly low pancreatic activities of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (SeGSHpx) at 8 d of age. Supplementation of the purified diet with 500 or 1,000 IU VE/kg prevented both NPA and the associated growth depression. Use of graded dietary VE levels showed that addition of at least 300 IU/kg was required to overcome the growth depression associated with severe Se deficiency. Although tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased linearly with increasing dietary levels of VE, the response in pancreas was less than (about one-half of) those in liver and heart and, unlike the response in heart, was not affected by dietary Se level. That protection against NPA involved the antioxidant action of VE was suggested by results showing that NPA is promoted by high dietary levels of linoleic acid, that high VE levels correct membrane unsaturated fatty acid losses due to Se deficiency and that NPA is prevented by high levels of other antioxidants. It is suggested that the normally low activities of SeGSHpx and concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in the pancreas may predispose that organ to lesions due to oxidative stress under conditions of severe nutritional Se deficiency that results in further depletion of SeGSHpx. This situation may be overcome by feeding VE at 15-20-fold excesses over the levels normally regarded as nutritionally required.