title: Studies on the effects of selenium on rumen microbial fermentation in vitro.
abstract: The effects of selenium (Se) on ruminant microbial fermentation were investigated in vitro using rumen microflora collected from a rumen-fistulated dairy cow. First, the effects of L-selenomethionine (SeMet; at 0.2 or 2 ppm Se) in the presence or absence of wheat bran (WB, 500 mg per incubation flask) were evaluated. Second, the effects of several forms of Se (elemental Se: 50 ppm Se; sodium selenite: 2 ppm Se; SeMet: 2 ppm Se) were compared. Results showed that the amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) tended to be increased by SeMet treatment, whereas SeMet in the presence of WB transiently suppressed fermentation. The addition of SeMet tended to increase the production of acetate while reducing the production of butyrate with the without WB supplementation. Among the different Se compounds tested, the amounts of SCFAs were greater with SeMet treatment, which yielded a higher proportion of acetate compared to other treatments. Selenite did not influence the total SCFAs concentrations; however, it increased the relative proportion of butyrate at the expense of acetate. Elemental Se did not significantly affect fermentation. Higher bacterial Se concentrations were observed for selenite than for SeMet. It was concluded that Se supplementation can influence rumen microbial fermentation and that Se compounds differ in this regard.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Van Soest
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Combs
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000737:chemistry; D020148:Butyric Acid; D002417:Cattle; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011422:Propionates / Q000737:chemistry; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D011422:Propionates; D020148:Butyric Acid; D012645:Selenomethionine; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite; C029658:propionic acid; D019342:Acetic Acid