Record Details

Histologic effects of chronic selenium deficiency in selected tissues of laboratory rats

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title Histologic effects of chronic selenium deficiency in selected tissues of laboratory rats
Names Sprinker, Lucas Harry (creator)
Harr, James R. (advisor)
Date Issued 1970-01-13 (iso8601)
Note Graduation date: 1970
Abstract The selenium-responsive syndromes and the discovery of
Factor 3-selenium focused attention on selenium in metabolism. Two
hypotheses have been advanced to explain the metabolic effect of
selenium: 1) substitution or sparing of alpha tocopherol, and 2) a
primary role in metabolism. The first hypothesis is supported by
Scott and Desai, who found that selenium and alpha tocopherol produced
similar responses in certain deficiency diseases. The earlier
inability to produce lesions of a selenium deficiency in the rat in the
presence of ample vitamin E has caused the validity of the second
hypothesis to be questioned. This obstacle to identifying the metabolic
role of selenium was overcome when Weswig and Whanger succeeded in
developing a selenium-deficient rat.
Selenium-deficient rats were obtained from the colony of
Weswig and Whanger and observed until deficiency lesions appeared.
At this time they were divided randomly into selenium deficient and
supplemented groups. The deficient group was maintained on the
low selenium rations and the supplemented group was fed this diet
with 100 ppb selenium added as sodium selenite. The rats were
necropsied at 80, 147 and 221 days of age. Body, heart, liver and
genital weights were recorded and tissues were selected for histological
and histochemical studies.
Signs in the selenium deficient rats were poor growth, alopecia
and sterility. The histopathologic lesions of the skin, liver,
genitalia, and musculoskeletal system are described. The pathologic
changes resembled those found in exudative diathesis of chicks, un-thriftiness
in lambs and calves, and infertility in ewes. Liver
necrosis and myopathy were not observed,
Histochemical changes included a reduction in the number of
sulfhydryl reactive sites in the liver, testicle, muscle and back
skin. Morphological changes were directly related to endothelial
degeneration and hypoplasia. Correlation of clinical lesions and
cellular changes indicated that selenium deficiency in the rat altered
protein production and physiology of the vasculature.
Genre Thesis/Dissertation
Topic Selenium -- Physiological effect
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/46275

© Western Waters Digital Library - GWLA member projects - Designed by the J. Willard Marriott Library - Hosted by Oregon State University Libraries and Press