Abstract
Retention and tissue distribution of different forms and levels of dietary Se fed to Se-depleted rats were measured over a 70-day period. The basal diet contained 0.024 ppm Se and contained low-Se corn and torula yeast. This diet was supplemented with selenomethionine to 0.078 and 0.120 ppm Se, and with selenite to 0.093 and 0.146 ppm Se. An additional diet containing 0.078 ppm Se was prepared from corn grown on Se-treated soil. The rate of growth was not affected by sources or levels of dietary Se. In a Se balance trial conducted from day 47 to day 50 of feeding the experimental diets, apparent retention of Se was greater from selenomethionine at 0.120 ppm Se than from selenite at 0.146 ppm Se. There were no significant differences in Se retention associated with different sources of Se when these were fed at levels less than 0.10 ppm Se. The concentration of Se in the muscle of rats fed diets supplemented with the high level of selenomethionine was higher (.089 ppm) than in rats fed diets containing the high level of selenite (.072 ppm). Selenium concentrations in other tissues were generally related to the level of dietary Se, but not to the form of dietary Se. After these diets had been fed for 70 days, female rats were fed a low-Se diet and mated.Maternal transfer of Se was greater from females(0.44 Se per pup vs. 0.10 Se per pup)that had received the Se-supplemented diets for 70 days prior to mating, but there were no significant differences in amount of Se transferred maternally within the various Se supplementation levels or sources. Copyright © 1973. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1973 by American Society of Animal Science.