Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Seville University, C/Profesor García Gonzalez, No. 2, 41012 Seville, Spain.
Reproduction. 2013 Oct 29;146(6):659-67. doi: 10.1530/REP-13-0267. Print 2013 Dec.
Selenium (Se), an essential trace metal, is important in both growth and reproduction and is the constituent of different selenoproteins. The glutathione peroxidase (GPx) family is the most studied as it prevents oxidative stress. Liver oxidation is considered as another mechanism involved in low birth weight. Therefore, in order to ascertain whether GPx is related to the effects of Se on growth during gestation and lactation, three groups of rat pups were used: control, Se deficient (SD), and Se supplemented (SS). Morphological parameters and reproductive indices were evaluated. Hepatic Se levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption while spectrophotometry was used for activity of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers in liver and western blotting for expression of hepatic GPx1 and GPx4. The SD diet increased mortality at birth; decreased viability and survival indices; and stunted growth, length, and liver development in offspring, thus decreasing hepatic Se levels, GPx, glutathione reductase, and catalase activities, while increasing superoxide dismutase activity and protein oxidation. The SS diet counteracted all the above results. GPx1 expression was heavily regulated by Se dietary intake; however, although Se dietary deficiency reduced GPx4 expression, this decrease was not as pronounced. Therefore, it can be concluded that Se dietary intake is intimately related to growth, length, and directly regulating GPx activity primarily via GPx1 and secondly to GPx4, thus affecting liver oxidation and development. These results suggest that if risk of uterine growth retardation is suspected, or if a neonate with low birth weight presents with signs of liver oxidation, it may be beneficial to know about Se status.
硒（Se）是一种必需的微量元素，在生长和繁殖中都很重要，是不同硒蛋白的组成部分。谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）家族是研究最多的，因为它可以预防氧化应激。肝脏氧化被认为是与低出生体重有关的另一种机制。因此，为了确定 GPx 是否与妊娠和哺乳期 Se 对生长的影响有关，使用了三组大鼠幼崽：对照组、Se 缺乏组（SD）和 Se 补充组（SS）。评估了形态参数和生殖指数。通过石墨炉原子吸收法测量肝脏中的 Se 水平，分光光度法用于测量肝脏抗氧化酶和氧化应激标志物的活性以及 Western blot 用于检测肝脏 GPx1 和 GPx4 的表达。SD 饮食增加了出生时的死亡率；降低了存活率和生存指数；并阻碍了后代的生长、长度和肝脏发育，从而降低了肝脏中的 Se 水平、GPx、谷胱甘肽还原酶和过氧化氢酶的活性，同时增加了超氧化物歧化酶的活性和蛋白质氧化。SS 饮食逆转了上述所有结果。GPx1 的表达受 Se 饮食摄入的严重调节；然而，尽管 Se 饮食缺乏会降低 GPx4 的表达，但这种降低并不明显。因此，可以得出结论，Se 饮食摄入与生长、长度密切相关，主要通过 GPx1 直接调节 GPx 活性，其次是 GPx4，从而影响肝脏氧化和发育。这些结果表明，如果怀疑子宫生长迟缓的风险，或者如果低出生体重的新生儿出现肝脏氧化的迹象，了解 Se 的状况可能会有所帮助。
