A Comparison of the Uptake of [75Se] Selenite, [75Se] Selenomethionine and [35Se]Methionine by Tissues of Ewes and Lambs

Abstract

The fate of selenium, given as Na275Se03, or [75Sejselenomethionine, and of [35Sjmethionine administered intravenously to ewes and lambs, has been examined. The main intention was to follow the incorporation of selenium into protein in a number of tissues, including liver and kidney, and to measure the extent of that incorporation of selenoamino acid, particularly with respect to the administration of selenite. The ewes chosen were lactating ewes with lambs at foot, and the lambs were animals which had been weaned on to fodder low in selenium and were recovering from white muscle disease with selenium therapy. These two experimental situations were chosen as they offered conditions under which selenium incorporation might be considered to be maximal.