INFLUENCE OF SELENIUM DEFICIENCY ON VITAL FUNCTIONS IN RATS

To clarify the relationship between selenium (Se) deficiency and funct ional disorders, the authors determined the Se concentration, anti-oxi dant enzyme activity, and other parameters in rats fed a Se-deficient diet. Rats fed the Se-deficient diet showed a decrease in Se concentra tion and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in plasma, erythrocy tes, heart, liver, and skeletal muscle from the first week after the i nitiation of the diet, an increase in heart lipid peroxide concentrati on from the second week, and an increase in liver glutathione S-transf erase activity from the fourth week. From the twelfth week, a decrease in the growth rate in the rats fed the Se-deficient diet was observed . In spite of this growth impairment, no changes in electrocardiogram, muscle tone, degree of hemolysis, plasma biochemistry, or hematologic al values were detected. In summary, the authors found that a reductio n of body Se is easily induced, but that the appearance of functional disorders following Se deficiency is difficult to detect in rats.