Activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the blood of ewes and their lambs receiving the selenium-enriched unicellular alga Chlorella

Abstract

The effect of supplementation of selenium inorganic and organic forms on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was investigated for 7-8 months in three groups of ewes (by five animals each) and in born lambs. The basal feed ration contained 55 μg Se, the ewes of experimental group E1 received a supplement of 180 μg Se in sodium selenite, and the ewes of experimental group E2 were administered a supplement of 180 μg selenium bound in the biomass of the alga Chlorella. Control group C was without selenium supplement. The ewes were in the stage of non-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation during the experiment. The average number of lambs born per ewe was 1.0 in groups C and E1 and 1.8 in group E2. Both forms of selenium supplementation resulted in higher activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood, higher content of Se in the blood serum (P < 0.001) and milk of ewes (P < 0.001). Average activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood of ewes was as follows: C 697.9 ± 179.3; E1 1 147.4 ± 181.5; E2 1 056.1 ± 267.5 U/g Hb (P < 0.001). It reached the highest values in the 5th to 6th month of Se supplementation while the activity decreased after parturition in connection with lactation. Higher utilisation of Se from the organic form, compared to the inorganic form, was reflected in a higher content of Se in the milk of group E2 ewes (P < 0.05). The positive effect of selenium supplementation of ewes contributed to higher activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood of their lambs (P < 0.001) and higher Se concentration in the blood serum (P < 0.01). The organic form of Se (group E2) was more efficient in this case. Average activity of GSH-Px in the whole blood of lambs was as follows: C 434.1 ± 70.6; E1 1 031.6 ± 172.3 and E2 1 055.6 ± 235.1 U/g Hb.

Keywords

• selenite
• organic selenium
• blood selenium
• urine
• milk
• pregnancy
• lactation
• sheep
• glutathione peroxidise
• chlorella