Effect of parenteral selenium administration on oxidative status of weaned piglets

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of additional selenium injection after weaning on the selenium (Se) status of piglets and to find whether the selected dose would be appropriate with respect to the level of oxidative stress. Another goal was to compare the efficacy and safety of sodium selenite and selenopyran as selenium sources for parenteral administration to piglets. Altogether 30 piglets were divided equally into three groups. Piglets in group 1 were injected i.m. with sodium selenite, piglets in group 2 were injected with selenopyran. The dose was 0.42 mg Se/kg body weight for both groups. Piglets in group 3 were given only saline. As expected, the study revealed low Se serum concentrations in weaned piglets. The injection of sodium selenite increased Se serum concentrations but did not have a positive effect on the peroxidase activities. Administration of selenopyran did not influence Se concentrations and gluthation peroxidase activities. The selected dose did not have a significant impact on the level of the oxidative stress. The piglets receiving Se only from the feed achieved comparable gluthation peroxidase activities during the trial. It seems that despite initially low Se concentrations, the physiological requirements for gluthation peroxidase synthesis were met with the feed consumption as the only Se source. The results of the study are important because until now it was unclear whether the selected dose would have negative effects on the organism with respect to the induction of oxidative stress in piglets.