Effects of selenium supplementation on selenium status of farmed fallow deer in outdoor pens

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2015 Jan:29:216-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2014.10.006.

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of selenium (Se) supplementation on Se status in farmed fallow deer. Fallow deer were housed on grass pasture and adapted to consume ∼200 g of pelleted grain daily. Animals were divided into two groups. One group received pelleted grain enriched with sodium selenate for 12 weeks (Se+ group, N = 10). Se intake for the first 7 weeks was 0.18 mg/kg dry matter (DM) and 0.32 mg/kg DM for the subsequent 5 weeks. The control group was fed pelleted grain without extra Se (Se− group, N = 9, 0.06-0.08 mg/kg DM). Blood samples were collected at the beginning and the end of the experiment. After the animals were slaughtered, tissue samples were collected for analysis of Se concentrations and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) activity. In addition, Se-independent α-glutathione-S-transferase (α-GST) activity was analyzed in liver tissue. Se supplementation significantly increased Se levels in plasma and in tissues as follows: liver > spleen > skeletal muscle > myocardium > kidney. Se supplementation also significantly increased GPx1 activity in tissues in the following order: liver > skeletal muscle > spleen = myocardium > kidneys. However, hepatic α-GST activity did not differ between Se+ and Se− groups. As expected, Se supplementation increased blood and tissue Se concentrations and GPx1 activity, which suggests a better antioxidant status. However, the activity of α-GST, an important Se-independent antioxidant enzyme, was not altered, presumably because GPx provided an adequate antioxidant capacity even though Se intake was low.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Deer / blood*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / blood
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Organ Specificity / drug effects
  • Selenium / blood*
  • Selenium / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • glutathione S-transferase alpha
  • Selenium