IRON-INDUCED CHANGES IN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN SELENIUM-DEFICIENT RATS

This study examined the effect of excess iron on electrocardiogram (EG G) in rats fed selenium (Se)-deficient diet. Male Wistar rats were fed Torula yeast-based Se-deficient [Se(-)] diet or Se-adequate [Se(+)] ( containing 0.1 mg Se/kg diet as Na2SeO3) diet for 8 wk with intramuscu lar injection of iron-dextran at weekly intervals (250 mg iron in tota l). Iron concentrations in the liver acid spleen as well as the percen tage of transferrin saturation were significantly higher in Se(-) rats without iron injection than in Se(+) rats without iron injection. How ever, iron concentrations in the sera, hearts, and kidneys did not sig nificantly differ between the two groups. Se(-) and Se(+) rats with ir on injection showed about 2- to 10-fold increase of iron concentration s in all tissues examined, and 2-fold increase in the percentage of tr ansferrin saturation, regardless of Se status. Compared with the norma l rats (Se(+) rats without iron injection), Se(-) rats with and withou t iron injection and Se(+) rats with iron injection showed a greater T -wave height and a depressed S-T segment possible implication of exces s iron secondary to Se deficiency with this abnormal ECG pattern, was discussed.