Effect of Peroxide Administration on Selenium Utilization, Growth, Deficiency Symptoms, and Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in Chicks Fed Controlled Selenium Diets

The effect of peroxide administration on chick growth, severity of exudative diathesis, and glutathione peroxidase activity was determined. Hydrogen peroxide reduced rate of growth and usually reduced glutathione peroxidase activity of liver and plasma. The severity of exudative diathesis was greatly influenced by dietary selenium level but we found little if any relationships of this disease to peroxide induced reductions in glutathione peroxidase activity. Neither ethoxyquin nor excess supplemental selenium were effective in reversing the peroxide toxicity. The effect of hydrogen peroxide in reducing enzyme activity was related to decreased selenium uptake and retention. Tertiary butyl peroxide administration caused a more serious depression in enzyme activity of liver than hydrogen peroxide. This organic peroxide caused a small, but non-significant, reduction in selenium retention.