The effect of dietary selenium level on lead toxicity in the Japanese quail. 1976

C L Stone, and J H Soares

Previous studies (Parizek et al., 1969) have shown significant interactions between selenium and certain heavy metals, particularly mercury and cadmium. Since these elements have an affinity for sulfhydryl groups, it was proposed that a similar interaction might exist with lead. In an initial experiment, adult quail hens were given diets supplemented with 0 and 1 p.p.m. selenium and 0, 500 and 1000 p.p.m. lead in a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement. After 32 days of feeding, body weight, liver weight and egg production decreased in birds fed lead while kidney weights increased. Highly significant decreases in red blood cell delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (RBC-ALAD) activity occurred when lead was added to the diet. Control RBC-ALAD activity was 1337 versus 105, 91, 156 and 110 nmol. porphobilogen produced per ml. of erythrocyte per hour (nmol. PBG/ml. RBC/hr.) for the 500, 1000, 500 plus selenium and 1000 plus groups, respectively. After 85 days of feeding lead to male birds in a second study, selenium appeared to have variable effects on the concentration of lead in liver, kidney and tibia. Selenium supplementation to lead diets resulted in significantly increased levels of lead in kidney tissue while little or no effects were observed on liver or tibia lead levels. RBC-ALAD activity was significantly reduced with lead supplementation and no effect of selenium addition was observed. Electrophoretic gels of serum from birds fed lead containing diets showed increased protein bands in the transferrin and globulin regions regardless of the presence of 1 p.p.m. selenium. A third study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing an isolated soy protein diet with 0 and 1 p.p.m. selenium and 0 and 3000 p.p.m. lead. Selenium supplementation improved body weights over controls while lead additions caused reduced egg production and ALAD activity. Lead feeding increased tibia/body weight ratios and lead concentrations in liver, kidney and tibia. No significant interaction between lead and selenium was observed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007668 Kidney Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations. Kidneys
D007854 Lead A soft, grayish metal with poisonous salts; atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.2, symbol Pb.
D007855 Lead Poisoning Poisoning that results from chronic or acute ingestion, injection, inhalation, or skin absorption of LEAD or lead compounds. Poisoning, Lead,Lead Poisonings,Poisonings, Lead
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008297 Male Males
D011201 Poultry Diseases Diseases of birds which are raised as a source of meat or eggs for human consumption and are usually found in barnyards, hatcheries, etc. The concept is differentiated from BIRD DISEASES which is for diseases of birds not considered poultry and usually found in zoos, parks, and the wild. Disease, Poultry,Diseases, Poultry,Poultry Disease
D011784 Quail Common name for two distinct groups of BIRDS in the order GALLIFORMES: the New World or American quails of the family Odontophoridae and the Old World quails in the genus COTURNIX, family Phasianidae. Quails
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D003370 Coturnix A genus of BIRDS in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES, containing the common European and other Old World QUAIL. Japanese Quail,Coturnix japonica,Japanese Quails,Quail, Japanese,Quails, Japanese
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug

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