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Influence of dietary selenium on the distribution of tritium-labeled vitamin E in the rate

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Title Influence of dietary selenium on the distribution of tritium-labeled vitamin E in the rate
Names Cheeke, Peter R. (creator)
Oldfield, James E. (advisor)
Date Issued 1968-11-18 (iso8601)
Note Graduation date: 1969
Abstract A series of four trials were conducted to determine the influence
of selenium supplementation of a selenium- and vitamin E-deficient
basal diet on the absorption, excretion, tissue distribution
and placental transfer of a single dose of tritium-labeled α-tocopherol
in the rat.
In the first trial, the effect of supplementation of the basal diet
with 1.0 ppm selenium, 500 IU vitamin E per kg diet, or 1.0 ppm
selenium and 500 IU vitamin E per kg diet, on the placental transfer
of a dose of labeled tocopherol was examined. Twenty-four hours
after dosing, the fetuses of the basal group contained a significantly
higher (P < 0.005) percentage of the dose than did those of any of the
other groups. Approximately equal fetal uptake of the dose occurred
in those groups receiving supplementation with either vitamin E or
selenium, while the lowest uptake was observed in the group receiving
both vitamin E and selenium supplementation. These data indicate
that the provision of selenium reduced the fetal tocopherol requirement.
The second trial was concerned with the effect of supplementation
of the basal diet with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ppm selenium on the
absorption and excretion of a dose of tritium-labeled α-tocopherol.
Neither the urinary nor fecal excretion over a 72 hour period after
dosing was affected by the addition of selenium. A significant inverse
correlation was found between urinary excretion of the radioactivity
and body weight. About 1.5% of the dose was excreted in
the urine over the 72 hour experimental period, while 45-50% was
excreted in the feces. No effect of level of selenium supplementation
on the absorption of the radioactive tocopherol was found.
The effect of supplementation of the basal diet with either
2.0 ppm selenium or 500 IU vitamin E per kg diet on the absorption,
excretion and distribution of a dose of labeled tocopherol was
examined in the third trial. As in the second trial, no effect of
supplementary selenium on the absorption or excretion of the radioactive
material was observed. Supplementation with vitamin E resulted
in a slight increase in fecal excretion of the dose, probably
because of reduced absorption. The urinary excretion of radioactivity
was markedly affected by vitamin E supplementation; with almost
twice as much activity excreted by this group as by the basal and selenium-supplemented animals. The plasma level of radioactivity
was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the basal group than in
the selenium-supplemented rats, while the plasma radioactivity was
significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the vitamin E-supplemented group
than in the basal or selenium-supplemented groups. The level of
protein-bound plasma radioactivity was also significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the basal group than in those receiving selenium, and
significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the vitamin E supplemented group
than in the others. The percentage of the plasma radioactivity that
was protein-bound was not affected by treatment. The results indicate
that selenium may have a role in promoting the withdrawal of
vitamin E from the blood. The radioactivity content of the heart and
liver tended to be higher in the selenium-supplemented groups than
in the basal animals but the difference was not statistically significant.
The fourth experiment compared the distribution of labeled
vitamin E at intervals of 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after dosing in rats
on the basal diet and a group receiving supplementation with 2.0 ppm
selenium. The plasma level of radioactivity was higher at all time
intervals in the basal group, substantiating the results of the third
trial which suggested that selenium may promote the withdrawal of
vitamin E from the plasma. The levels of radioactivity in the heart
and liver were not significantly different between the two groups.
The rate of uptake and depletion of the labeled tocopherol varied
among the tissues examined; the liver and plasma reached the peak
level prior to 12 hours after dosing, and declined to less than half
the 12 hour level by 24 hours. The radioactivity in the heart did not
show appreciable variation over the experimental period.
These experiments indicate that in the rat, selenium does not
influence the absorption or excretion of α-tocopherol. Selenium does
appear to modify tissue distribution of vitamin E; it was found that
the plasma level of vitamin E was reduced when the basal diet was
supplemented with selenium. The placental transfer of labeled vitamin
E was reduced when the basal diet was supplemented with
selenium, suggesting that the fetal requirement for α-tocopherol may
be reduced in the presence of selenium.
Genre Thesis/Dissertation
Topic Selenium -- Physiological effect
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/46642

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