Alterations in the intermediary metabolism of selenium-deficient mice

Male albino mice were pair-fed a torula yeast-based selenium-deficient (Se-) diet containing 10 ppb selenium for 4 months, while a control group (Se+) received a similar diet supplemented with 330 ppb selenium as Na2SeO3. In addition to previously observed modulations of drug-metabolizing enzymes (Reiter, R. and Wendel, A. (1985) Biochem. Pharmacol. 34, 2287-2290), an increase of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity and succinate dehydrogenase activity in liver by about 60% was found. In vivo, an increased 14CO2 exhalation from a tracer dose of glucose either labeled in the C-1- or C-6 position was observed in selenium-deficient mice. However, no difference in the total CO2 exhalation of Se(-)- as compared to Se+-mice was detectable. In line with the assumption that Se(-)-mice have an increased glucose turnover, Se(-)-mice exhibited a greater glucose tolerance when treated with an oral glucose load of 2.5 mg glucose/kg body weight. Also, the Se(-)-mice had a lower blood glucose level as compared to Se+-controls (89 +/- 3 versus 110 +/- 12 mg glucose/100 ml blood). Further in vitro experiments with red blood cells from Se(-)-mice showed that erythrocytes did not contribute to an increased CO2 formation from glucose via the pentose phosphate shunt. No significant differences between Se(-)- and Se+-animals were found in the profile of urinary metabolites, including ketone bodies and nitrogen excretion. These findings suggest a hitherto unknown involvement of selenium in specific regulatory sites of intermediary metabolism.