J. Biochem, 1984, Vol. 96, No. 5 1391-1397
© 1984 Japanese Biochemical Society
research-article |
Variation of Glutathione Level and Synthesis Activity in Chick Liver Due to Selenium and Vitamin E Deficiencies1
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto 606
2Department of Public Health, Kansai Medical University Moriguchi, Osaka 570
3Research Institute Morinaga & Co., Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, kanagawa 230
4Department of Agriculatural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto Prefectural University Sakyo-ku, kyoto, kyoto 606
5Research Institute for Food Science, Kyoto University Uji, Kyoto 611
Chicks were fed an amino acid mixture-based diet (basal diet) or one supplemented with selenium (Se, 0.2µg/g as Na2SeO3) and/or vitamin E (100 µg/g as 
-tocopherol). The group receiving the basal diet devoid of Se and vitamin E showed a tendency to grow slowly, but not significantly so, compared to the non-deficient control and manifested a symptom of exudative diathesis after the feeding period of 4 weeks. Supplementation of the basal diet with Se or vitamin E prevented the deficiency symptoms in the chicks. The hepatic GSH level and GSH synthesis activity were about three times as much in the Se- and vitamin E-deficient group as in the control. This was also the case for in vivo sulfur incorporation into hepatic GSH for 10 h post-injection with [35S]methionine. The increased level of GSH may partly compensate the hepatocytes for peroxidative damage.
1This study was supported by a Scientific Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research No. 58105005 for K. Y. from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.