title: Effects of selenium on RNA synthesis and content in rat pancreas.
abstract: In order to investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on RNA in the rat pancreas, the rate of in vitro incorporation of [3H]uridine into RNA by pancreas slices derived from two groups of rats fed either a low-selenium diet or a diet supplemented with 0.25 mg/kg selenium as selenite was examined. The RNA and lipid peroxide contents and glutathione peroxidase activity in homogenates from the pancreas were also determined. After feeding for 12-14 weeks, the rates of [3H]uridine incorporation were significantly higher in the pancreatic tissue from the selenium-supplemented diet group. Concomitantly, an increase in glutathione peroxidase activities and RNA content, and a reduction of lipid peroxides, were also found in the pancreatic tissue of the selenium-supplemented group. The results suggest that selenium supplementation at a level of 0.25 mg/kg selenium could promote RNA synthesis with an increase in glutathione peroxidase activity and a decrease of lipid peroxides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Xi'an Medical University, Shaanxi, PRC.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: X A
authors.initials: XA
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014316:Tritium; D014529:Uridine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D014316:Tritium; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium; D014529:Uridine