title: Effect of selenium on thioredoxin reductase activity in Txnrd1 or Txnrd2 hemizygous mice.
abstract: Thioredoxin reductase 1 (Txnrd1) and thioredoxin reductase 2 (Txnrd2) are selenoproteins whose expression and function depends on adequate supply of the trace element selenium (Se). As homozygous (-/-) knockout of both Txnrd1 and Txnrd2 is embryonically lethal, we investigated the effect of their hemizygosity (+/-) alone and in combination with dietary Se on enzymatic activity in various tissues. To assess the overall health of the corresponding mice, the growth, viability and fertility of the different experimental groups were also compared. Se depletion led to a marked decrease in Se organ contents. Se depletion was most prominent in lung, followed by liver, kidney, heart, muscle and brain. We found no major effect of Txnrd1 or Txnrd2 hemizygosity and/or Se on male fertility and the viability of offspring. A gene dose effect under Se-adequate conditions for Txnrd1 and Txnrd2 in all organs was observed. Haploid insufficiency decreased Txnrd activity to an extent that can be further decreased by Se deficiency, but not to levels below those observed for Se depletion alone. The only exception was Txnrd2 activity in kidney, heart and muscle, where we found an additive effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, GSF Research Centre for Environment and Health, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiermayer
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Michalke
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brielmeier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054481:Thioredoxin Reductase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054482:Thioredoxin Reductase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054481:Thioredoxin Reductase 1; D054482:Thioredoxin Reductase 2; C516125:Txnrd1 protein, mouse; C516128:Txnrd2 protein, mouse; D012643:Selenium