Effects of different levels of dietary selenium and vitamin E on the humoral immunity of rats
Bauersachs, S.; Kirchgessner, M.; Paulicks, B.R.
Journal of Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Health and Disease 7(3): 147-152
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0931-2838 PMID: 8155986 Document Number: 406534
The effect of selenium supply and of selenium/vitamin E on the immune status of rats were investigated in 2 separate experiments. Experiment I examined the effect of selenium deficiency at two different times of growth, while experiment II investigated the effect of different selenium and vitamin E supplies on the concentrations of all the immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM and IgG with the subtypes IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG2c). The concentration of selenium in serum, liver and spleen samples and the activity of glutathione peroxidase, which were determined to define selenium status of the rats, corresponded well to the required supply situation. In both experiments, selenium deficiency decreased the value of the IgG groups only nominally. IgA was not changed, while IgM was significantly reduced, especially with prolonged selenium deficiency and simultaneous vitamin E deficiency. An excessive selenium supply compensated to a great extent for the effects of vitamin E deficiency on IgG and IgA.