Effect of dietary selenite on development and intestinal absorption in offspring rats.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to compare selenium (Se) status in offspring rats born to selenium-deficient and selenium supplemented dams and to analyse Se's influence on intestinal parameters and the intestinal absorption of selenomethionine (Se-Met).


METHODS
Male and female Wistar rats (150-200 g) were randomised in: control (C) (0.1 ppm Se), Se-deficient (SD) (0.01 ppm Se) and Se-supplemented (SS) (0.5 ppm Se) groups; and were mated to obtain their offspring. Se levels in serum, urine and faeces in offspring and in mothers' milk were measured by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Duodenal transport studies in offspring were performed using an in vivo perfusion of different Se-Met concentrations (2, 5, 10, 25, 75 and 150 μM).


RESULTS
A Se-deficient diet provoked a decrease in the offspring's body weight and intestinal parameters, while the supplemented diet increased these values. Serum Se levels were similar between Se-deficient and control offspring because the urinary excretion of Se was smaller to compensate for Se homeostasis. Intestinal Se-Met absorption obeys the Michaelis-Menten equation with lower apparent constant (K(m)) and maximal velocity (V(max)) in the SD group. However, the C and SS groups presented similar K(m) and different V(max). The V(max) showed greater values in the following order of rank: SS>C>SD groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Selenium intake deficiencies in offspring lead to the development of compensatory mechanisms in order to normalise serum selenium levels. These mechanisms, however, do not permit normal body development; nor do they regulate intestinal parameters and Se-Met transport.
Department of Physiology and Zoology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Seville University, 41012 Seville, Spain.
M J
MJ
Delgado
F
F
Nogales
M L
ML
Ojeda
M L
ML
Murillo
O
O
Carreras
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D012645:Selenomethionine; D012643:Selenium