Abstract
The subchronic effects of selenomethionine (SeM) and sodium selenite (SeL) on several immunologic, hematologic, and serologic parameters in mallards were measured, using concentrations in drinking water of 0, 0.5, and 3.5 mg/L selenium (Se) as SeL and 2.2 mg/L (Se) as SeM. Cyclophosphamide (CP) was used as an immunosuppressive control at 20 mg/L. A battery ofin vivo andin vitro immunologic assays was performed on each bird throughout the 12 week study. The SeM-treated birds displayed a significantly impaired delayed-type hypersensitive (DTH) response to tuberculin (M. bovis), as measured by the number of positive reactions present 24 hours post PPD challenge (p ⩽ 0.05). The SeM-treated group also exhibited a significantly increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and an increased plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity (p ⩽ 0.05). Selenium concentration in the liver and breast muscle of SeM-treated birds was significantly elevated 4- and 14-fold, respectively, over controls (p < 0.05). Body weight and water consumption of treated birds did not differ from controls. Organ weights were not significantly affected by any Se treatment. Sodium selenite-treated birds displayed no detectable differences in immune-function or Se accumulation in tissues as compared to controls. Serum ALT activity was significantly increased in the 3.5 mg/L group, although to a lesser extent than in SeM-treated birds. Cyclophosphamide significantly depressed white blood cell number, testes weights, and also suppressed the DTH reaction. Concentrations of Se as SeL did not affect the immune system, whereas low concentrations of SeM (2.2 mg/L Se) appeared to suppress certain aspects of the mallard immune response.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Arvilommi H, Poikonen K, Jokinen I, Muukkonen O, Rasanen L, Foreman J, Huttunen J (1983) Selenium and immune functions in humans. Infect Immun 41:185–189
Brown MW, Watkinson JH (1977) An automated fluorimetric method for the determination of nanogram quantities of selenium. Anal Chem Acta 89:29–35
Colnago GL, Jensen LS, Long PL (1984) Effect of selenium and vitamin E on the development of immunity to coccidiosis in chickens. Poultry Sci 63:1136–1143
Combs GF Jr, Combs SB (1986) The role of selenium in nutrition. Academic Press, New York
Dean JH, Padarathsingh ML, Jerrells TR, Keys L, Northing JW (1979) Assessment of immunobiological effects induced by chemicals, drugs, or food additives. II. Studies with cyclophosphamide. Drug Chem Toxicol 2(1&2):133–153
Dein FJ (1984) Laboratory Manual of Avian Hematoiogy, Association of Avian Veterinarians, East Northport, NY
Douvas GS, Crowle AJ (1981) Mechanisms involved in the antibody-mediated suppression of tuberculin-type delayed hypersensitivity. Cell Immunol 58:302–311
Exon JH, Koller LD, Talcott PA, O'Reilly CA, Henningsen GM (1986) Immunotoxicity testing: An economical multiple-assay approach. Fund Appl Toxicol 7:387–397
Fairbrother et al. (1989) Changes in mallard (Anas platyrhinchos) serum chemistries due to age, sex, and reproductive condition. J Wildl Dis (in review)
Heinz GH, Hoffman DJ, Gold LG (1988) Toxicity of organic and inorganic selenium to mallard ducklings. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 17:561–568
Heinz GH, Hoffman DJ, Krynitsky AL, Weller DMG (1987) Reproduction in mallards fed selenium. Environ Toxicol Chem 6:423–433
Hocman G (1988) Chemoprevention of cancer: Selenium. Int J Biochem 20(2):123–132
Hoffman DJ, Heinz GH (1988) Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of selenium in the diet of mallards. J Toxicol Environ Health 24:477–490
Hoffman DJ, Heinz GH, Gold LG (1988) Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of inorganic and organic selenium in mallards. Teratology 37(5):464
Ip C, White G (1987) Mammary cancer chemoprevention by inorganic and organic selenium: single agent treatment or in combination with vitamin E and their effects onin vitro immune functions. Carcinogenesis 8(12):1763–1766
Jerne NK, Nordin AA (1963) Plaque formation in agar by single antibody-producing cells. Science 140:405
Kerkvliet NI, Baecher-Steppan L, Claycomb AT, Craig AM, Sheggeby CG (1982) Immunotoxicity of technical pentachlorophenol (PCP-T): Depressed humoral immune responses to T-dependent and T-independent antigen stimulation in PCP-T exposed mice. Fundam Appl Toxicol 2:90–99
Koller LD (1980) Immunotoxicity of heavy metals. Int J Immunopharmacol 2:269
Koller LD, Exon JH, Talcott PA, Osborne CA, Henningsen GM (1986) Immune responses in rats supplemented with selenium. Clin Exp Immunol 63:570–576
Koller LD, Kerkvliet NI, Exon JH, Brauner JA, Patton NM (1979) Synergism of methylmercury and selenium producing enhanced antibody formation in mice. Arch Environ Health 34:248–251
Lamont SJ, Smyth JR (1984) Effect of selection for delayed amelanosis on immune response in chickens. 2. Cell-mediated immunity. Poultry Sci 63:440–442
Lamont SJ (1986) Genetic associations of reticuloendothelial activity in chickens. Proc 3rd World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lincoln, Nebraska
Lewandowski AH, Campbell TW, Harrison GJ (1986) Clinical Chemistries. In: Harrison GJ, Harrison LR (eds) Clinical Avian Medicine and Surgery. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA, pp 192–200
Lowry OH, Rosenbrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Luster MI, Munson AE, Thomas PT, Holsapple MP, Fenters JD, White KL Jr, Lauer CD, Germotec DR, Rosenthal GJ, Dean JH (1988) Development of a testing battery to assess chemical-induced immunotoxicity: National Toxicology Program's guidelines for immunotoxicity evaluation in mice. Fundam Appl Toxicol 10:2–19
Mansour A, Nelson DS (1979) Effect of hydrocortisone, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and methotrexate on delayed and arthus type hypersensitivity in the rat. Int Archs Allergy appl Immun 60:50–59
Ohlendorf HM, Hoffman DJ, Saiki MK, Aldrich TW (1986) Embryonic mortality and abnormalities of aquatic birds: Apparent impacts of selenium from irrigation drainwater. Sci Total Environ 52:49–63
Reffett JK, Spears JW, Brown TT Jr. (1988) Effect of dietary selenium on the primary and secondary immune response in calves challenged with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. J Nutr 118:229–235
Renoux G, Renoux M (1980) The effects of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, or hydrocortisone acetate administered alone or in association for 4 weeks on the immune responses of BALB/c mice. Clin Immuno Immunopathol 15:23–32
Rocke TE, Yuill TM, Hinsdill RD (1984) Oil and related toxicant effects on mallard immune defenses. Environ Res 33:343–352
Saiki MK, Lowe TP (1987) Selenium in aquatic organisms from subsurface agricultural drainage water, San Joaquin Valley, California. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 16:657–670
SAS Institute Inc (1985) SAS/STAT Guide for Personal Computers, Version 6 Edition. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, 378 pp
Sheffy BE, Shultz RD (1979) Influence of vitamin E and selenium on the immune response mechanisms. Fed Proc 28:2139–2143
Spallholz JE, Martin JL, Gerlach ML, Heinzerling RH (1975) Injectable selenium: Effect on the primary immune response of mice. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 148:37–40
Tsiagbe VK, Cook ME, Harper AE and Sande ML (1987) Enhanced immune responses in broiler chicks fed methionine-supplemented diets. Poultry Sci 66:1147–1154
Turk JL, Parker D (1987) Immunological aspects of immediate and delayed skin hypersensitivity. In: Matzulli FN, Maibach HI (eds) Dermatotoxicology. Hemisphere Publ Corp, New York, pp 191–215
US Environmental Protection Agency (1985) Quality Criteria for Water. Office of Water, Washington, DC, EPA-440/5/86-001
Whanger PD, Weswig PH, Schmitz JA, Oldfield JE (1977) Effects of selenium and vitamin E on blood selenium levels, tissue glutathione peroxidase activities and white muscle disease in sheep fed purified or hay diets. J Nutr 107:1298–1307
Whanger PD, Butler JA (1988) Effects of various dietary levels of selenium as selenite or selenomethionine on tissue selenium levels and glutathione peroxidase activity in rats. J Nutr 118:846–852
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fairbrother, A., Fowles, J. Subchronic effects of sodium selenite and selenomethionine on several immune-functions in mallards. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 19, 836–844 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055048
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055048