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Estimation of the selenium requirement of growing guinea pigs ( Cavia porcellus )
Author(s) -
Jensen C.,
Pallauf J.
Publication year - 2008
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 - 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2007.00738.x
Subject(s) - selenium , glutathione peroxidase , chemistry , medicine , kidney , endocrinology , gpx1 , ascorbic acid , cavia , biochemistry , guinea pig , biology , enzyme , glutathione , food science , organic chemistry
Summary The aim of the study was to determine the selenium (Se) requirement of guinea pigs as a species unable to synthesize ascorbic acid. Forty‐nine male guinea pigs (average weight 208 ± 3.5 g) were divided into an initial status group and six experimental groups. The animals received a Se deficient Torula yeast based basal diet (<0.02 mg Se and 26 mg α‐tocopherol/kg) or a Se addition of 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 mg/kg diet as sodium selenate for 10 weeks. There was no significant difference in weight gain (final weight 643 ± 21 g) between the groups and no clinical symptoms of Se deficiency occurred. With the exception of the testes, there was an increasing Se concentration in liver, plasma and haemolysate dependent on supplementation level. Glutathione peroxidase was determined in the plasma and Se dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) in haemolysate, liver, kidney, heart and lung. Thioredoxin reductase (TR) activity was measured in liver, kidney and heart and deiodinase activity in the liver. A phospholipid hydroperoxide reducing activity with Se influence was determined in liver, kidney, heart, testes and brain. With the exception of GPx1 activity in heart and haemolysate and TR activity in the kidney, all enzymes already reached their maximal activity at 0.05 mg Se/kg diet. The activities of GPx1 and TR were used as parameters for broken line analysis and a Se requirement of 0.080 mg Se/kg diet was derived as sufficient for growing guinea pigs adequately supplied with vitamin E.