The effect of selenium on mercury retention in the offspring of treted hens

Abstract

The levels of mercury in the chicken organs were determined after long term oral administration of mercury to laying hens. Phenylmercuric chloride was fed to laying hens and cocks for 28 and 56 days in a dose 30 ppm of mercury alone and the same dose supplemented with 4 ppm of selenium. The mortality rate of their offspring and the level of mercury in the chick muscle, liver and kidneys after seven days of rearing were analyzed. The mercury accumulated in the fertilized eggs was transferred from the hens to their offspring. The mercury level in the offspring of both experimental groups was highest in the kidneys, followed by liver and muscle. The addition of selenium to the diet for laying hens resulted in a different rate of a decrease of mercury level in their offspring in all organs analyzed.