[Metablism of DL-selenomethionine in growing chicks]

The experiments made use of growing male birds. They were given orally 4 muCi of 75Se per kg liveweight each under the form of DL-selenium-methionine, and were bled (via the wing vein) at fixed intervals. Studied was the radioactivity in the liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, brain, testes, femoral muscles, and breast bone. The amount of 75Se excreted through the feces and urine was examined at the 24th, 48th, and 72nd hour following the introduction of selenium-methionine. It was found that the resorption of 75Se-selenium-methionine through the digestive tract of birds as registered by the radioactivity of the blood was most intensive between the 3rd and the 6th hour, after which a decline was observed. Most intensive was the metabolism of selenium-methionine in the kidneys, spleen, testes, and pancreas, Comparatively lower is the metabolism of this agent in the breast bone and in the brain. Radioactivity of selenium-methionine was lowest in the femoral muscle. No substantial differences were established in its metabolism in the various organs and tissues studied at the 6th, 24th, 48th, and 72nd hour. As musch as 18.19 per cent of the introduced amount of selenium-methionine was excreted for 72 hours through the feces and urine.