INTERACTION OF SELENIUM AND LEAD ON SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THYROID-FUNCTION IN PEKIN DUCKLINGS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (3) , 487-490
Abstract
Pb shot recovered at necropsy 2 and 3 wk after being dropped down the throats of Pekin ducklings caused significant increases in thyroid gland weight and 24 h thyroid uptake of 125I while serum PB125I levels were maintained at or above control values. Supplementation of Pb shot with 1 ppm Se in drinking water reduced these increases. Se in the drinking water incurred no increase in thyroid gland weight at 2 wk, but some goitrogenicity at 3 wk and significant reductions in thyroid radioiodine uptake and serum PB125I levels at 2 and 3 wk. Chromatographic analyses of thyroid hydrolysates demonstrated a depression in iodothyronine (T4 [thyroxine] and T3 [triiodothyronine]) labeling in Pb shot-treated and Se-treated animals which was corrected by addition of Se to Pb shot-treated ducklings. While PB or Se treatment independently exerted a selective toxic effect on thyroid function, Se supplementation of Pb-treated Pekin ducklings did protect against the toxicity of Pb on thyroid function.