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A low‐selenium diet increases thyroxine and decreases 3,5,3′triiodothyronine in the plasma of kittens
Author(s) -
YU S.,
HOWARD DECEASED K. A.,
WEDEKIND K. J.,
MORRIS J. G.,
ROGERS Q. R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0396.2002.00338.x
Subject(s) - selenium , medicine , triiodothyronine , endocrinology , selenoprotein , deiodinase , glutathione peroxidase , hormone , iodothyronine deiodinase , chemistry , thyroid , biology , zoology , catalase , oxidative stress , organic chemistry
The effect of a low‐selenium diet on thyroid hormone metabolism was investigated in growing kittens. Twelve specific‐pathogen‐free kittens with ages ranging from 16 to 18 weeks were divided into two groups of equal number with equal sex distribution in each group. One group was fed a yeast‐based low‐selenium diet (0.02 mg Se/kg diet) while the other group was fed the same diet supplemented with Na 2 SeO 3 at 0.4 mg Se/kg diet for 8 weeks. Food intake, body weight and body weight gain were not affected by the low‐Se diet during the study period. However, kittens given the low‐Se diet had significantly reduced plasma selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity. Plasma total thyroxine (T4) increased and total 3,5,3′triiodothyronine (T3) decreased significantly in kittens fed the low‐Se diet at the end of the study. These results suggest that type I deiodinase in cats is a selenoprotein‐ or a selenium‐dependent enzyme.