Efficient selenium transfer from mother to offspring in selenoprotein-P-deficient mice enables dose-dependent rescue of phenotypes associated with selenium deficiency

Ulrich Schweizer; Marten Michaelis; Josef Köhrle; Lutz Schomburg

doi:10.1042/BJ20031795

Efficient selenium transfer from mother to offspring in selenoprotein-P-deficient mice enables dose-dependent rescue of phenotypes associated with selenium deficiency

Biochem J. 2004 Feb 15;378(Pt 1):21-6. doi: 10.1042/BJ20031795.

Authors

Ulrich Schweizer¹, Marten Michaelis, Josef Köhrle, Lutz Schomburg

Affiliation

¹ Neurobiologie des Selens, Neurowissenschaftliches Forschungszentrum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte, Schumannstrasse 20/21, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. [email protected]

Abstract

Mice deficient in selenoprotein P exhibit a disturbed selenium distribution and reduced activities of other selenoenzymes and display defects in growth and motor co-ordination. We have normalized selenoenzyme activities and rescued the phenotype of mutant mice by supplementing their nursing mothers with sodium selenite. Our results indicate that selenium from inorganic sources can be transferred efficiently via mother's milk to the developing offspring in a form that is both highly bioavailable by target tissues and yet sufficiently safe to prevent overdosages.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Administration, Oral
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Deficiency Diseases / metabolism
Deficiency Diseases / therapy
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drinking
Female
Glutathione Peroxidase / blood
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Milk / chemistry
Movement Disorders / therapy
Phenotype
Pregnancy
Proteins / genetics*
Selenium / analysis
Selenium / blood
Selenium / deficiency*
Selenoprotein P
Selenoproteins
Sodium Selenite / administration & dosage
Sodium Selenite / therapeutic use
Weight Gain

Substances

Proteins
Selenoprotein P
Selenoproteins
Glutathione Peroxidase
Selenium
Sodium Selenite