EFFECT OF SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON MICE INFECTED WITH LP-BM5 MULV,A MURINE AIDS MODEL

LP-BM5 Murine leukemia virus (MuLV) infection of C57BL/6 mice develop a disease that has many features in common with human acquired immunod eficiency syndrome (AIDS), in particular abnormal lymphoproliferation and severe immunodeficiency. Thus, this MAIDS model may be useful for evaluation of potent antirival agents in vivo. Deficiency in antioxida nt micronutients such as selenium, zinc, and glutathione have been obs erved in AIDs and AIDS-related complex (ARC) patients. In the present study, the MAIDS model was used to evaluate immunological and oxidativ e effect of Se as sodium selenite. Results indicated that Se treatment 0.1 mg/kg/d (p.o.) inhibited splenomegaly and sera IgG elevation effe ctively In addition to abnormal immunity, oxidative imbalance possibly existed in MAIDS model, as lipid peroxide increased significantly in spleen and whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity decrea sed markedly. Se supplementation had good protective effect.