Alcohol, gestation and breastfeeding: selenium as an antioxidant therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between alcohol, selenium and oxidative stress in breastfeeding rat pups exposed to ethanol during gestation and lactation. We have also studied how a Se-supplemented diet among mothers could prevent different oxidative liver disorders in the pups.


METHODS
Pups of 21 days were randomized into four groups: control group (C), alcohol group (A), alcohol selenium group (AS) and control selenium group (CS). Alcohol was supplied to their mothers for 13 weeks (induction, reproduction, gestation and lactation periods). The selenium-supplemented diet contained 0.5 ppm as selenite. We determined serum and liver selenium by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. We measured antioxidant enzyme activities: glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD); and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and protein carbonyl (PC) by a spectrophotometric method in the liver.


RESULTS
In the liver of pups, exposure to ethanol provoked a decrease in selenium and GPx activity and an increase in GR and CAT activity, as well as in carbonyl groups in protein. A pups had higher Se levels and GPx activity in serum than C pups. Administering Se with alcohol balances the activities of scavenging enzymes and reduces peroxidation protein products.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that selenium could be effective in neutralizing the damage of ethanol consumption during gestation and lactation in pups since it repairs selenium levels in liver as well as the activity of scavenging enzymes and peroxidation protein products. In serum, Se also recovers GPx activity and increases the levels of Se that are available to other organs.
Ojeda
Ma Luisa
ML
Department of Physiology and Zoology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Seville University, Seville, Spain.
Nogales
Fatima
F
Vázquez
Beatriz
B
Delgado
Ma José
MJ
Murillo
Ma Luisa
ML
Carreras
Olimpia
O
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000378:metabolism*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D000431:Ethanol; D012643:Selenium