title: Parameters of dietary selenium and vitamin E deficiency in growing rabbits.
abstract: 4 x 5 growing female rabbits (New Zealand White) with an initial live weight of 610 +/- 62 g were fed a torula yeast based semisynthetic diet low in selenium (<0.03 mg/kg diet) and containing <2 mg alpha-tocopherol per kg (group I). Group II received a vitamin E supplementation of 150 mg alpha-tocopherylacetate per kg diet, whereas for group III 0.40 mg Se as Na-selenite and for group IV both supplements were added. Selenium status and parameters of tissue damage were analyzed after 10 weeks on experiment (live weight 2,355 +/- 145 g). Selenium depletion of the Se deficient rabbits (groups I and II) was indicated by a significantly lower plasma Se content (group I: 38.3 +/- 6.23 microg Se/mL plasma, group II: 42.6 +/- 9.77, group III: 149 +/- 33.4, group IV: 126 +/- 6.45) and a significantly lower liver Se content (group I: 89.4 +/- 18.2 microg/kg fresh matter, group II: 111 +/- 26.2) as compared to the Se supplemented groups III (983 +/- 204) and IV (926 +/- 73.9). After 5 weeks on the experimental diets differences in the development of plasma glutathione peroxidase were observed. As compared to the initial status group (45.2 +/- 4.50) pGPx activity in mU/mg protein was decreased in group I (19.1 +/- 7.08), remained almost stable in the vitamin E supplemented group II (46.3 +/- 11.2) whereas an elevated enzyme activity was measured in the Se supplemented groups III (62.4 +/- 23.9) and IV (106 +/- 19.9). In the rabbit organs investigated 10 weeks of Se deficiency caused a significant loss of Se dependent cellular glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx1) of 94% (liver), 80% (kidney), 50% (heart muscle) and 60% (musculus longissimus dorsi) in comparison to Se supplemented control animals. Damage of cellular lipids and proteins in the liver was due to either Se or vitamin E deficiency. However damage was most severe under conditions of a combined Se and vitamin E deficiency. It can be concluded that the activity of plasma glutathione peroxidase is a sensitive indicator of Se deficiency in rabbits. The loss of GPx1 activity indicates the selenium depletion in various rabbit organs. Both selenium and vitamin E are essential and highly efficient antioxidants which protect rabbits against lipid and protein oxidation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Nutrition Physiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pallauf
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Most
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011817:Rabbits; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite