The effect of dietary selenium addition on the concentrations of heavy metals in the tissues of fallow deer (Dama dama L.) in Croatia.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the concentrations of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic and the essential elements iron and selenium in the tissues (muscle, kidney, liver, spleen, and fat) of fallow deer (Dama dama L.) without and with supplemental selenium addition. Another aim was to determine the effect of selenium addition on the indicators of oxidative stress, namely, the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and vitamin E. The research was carried out with 40 fallow deer during two research periods. Supplemental feed without selenium addition was provided during the first research period, and supplemental feed with added selenium (3mg/kg) was provided for 60days during the second research period. The concentration of selenium in tissues was higher in the second research period than in the first research period (in kidney tissue, 0.957 vs. 0.688mg/kg, P < 0.05). The dietary addition of selenium decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of some heavy metals (lead in the spleen = 0.06 vs. 0.27mg/kg and in the fatty tissue = 0.17 vs. 0.69mg/kg; arsenic in the muscle tissue = 0.005 vs. 0.014mg/kg, liver = 0.003 vs. 0.009mg/kg, spleen = 0.004 vs. 0.013mg/kg, and fat = 0.008 vs. 0.016mg/kg). The activity of glutathione peroxidase was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the second research period than in the first research period (1375.36 vs. 933.23U/L).