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.