Abstract
To test the hypothesis that glutathione (GSH) peroxidase is an important component of the lung's anti-oxidant defense systems, O2 toxicity was studied in selenium (Se)-deficient rats. Chronic respiratory disease free rats fed a Se-deficient diet or a diet supplemented with Se for 40 days after weaning were exposed to 80% O2 at atmospheric pressures for 3 days. Activities of GSH peroxidase in lungs of Se-deficient rats were markedly lower than corresponding activities in rats supplemented with 0.5 or 2.0 ppm Se. With O2 exposure, 35% of the rats fed the Se-deficient regimen died, whereas all rats fed Se-supplemented diets survived. Lungs from surviving Se-deficient rats exposed to O2 were edematous. The data suggest that the toxic effects of O2 are enhanced in Se-deficient rats and that nutritional factors contribute to lung susceptibility to oxidant-induced damage.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 695-706 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - 1977 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology