Dietary Selenomethionine Administration in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): Hepatic and Renal Se Accumulation and Its Effects on Growth and Body Condition

Finger, Jr., John W.; Hamilton, Matthew T.; Glenn, Travis C.; Tuberville, Tracey D.

doi:10.1007/s00244-017-0370-4

Dietary Selenomethionine Administration in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): Hepatic and Renal Se Accumulation and Its Effects on Growth and Body Condition

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0370-4· OSTI ID:1821184

Finger, Jr., John W. ^[1]; Hamilton, Matthew T. ^[2]; Glenn, Travis C. ^[3]; Tuberville, Tracey D. ^[4]

Auburn Univ., AL (United States); Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); SREL
Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States)
Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace nutrient, but in excess, it can induce toxicity. Incomplete combustion of coal produces coal combustion wastes (CCWs), which are enriched in Se and often disposed of in aquatic basins. While a multitude of studies have investigated Se accumulation in vertebrates, there have been few studies examining its effects on longer-lived top trophic carnivores, such as the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). In this study, alligators were fed one of three Dietary Treatments: mice injected with water (controls) or water supplemented with 1000 ppm or 2000 ppm selenomethionine (SeMet). Dietary Treatment significantly affected Se levels in both the liver (p < 0.0001; raw mean ± standard error: 1000 ppm group, 35.20 ± 6.32 ppm; 2000 ppm group, 49.97 ± 4.00 ppm) and kidney (p < 0.0001; raw mean ± standard error: 1000 ppm group, 101.60 ± 8.64 ppm; 2000 ppm, 96.38 ± 5.81 ppm), which were significantly higher in alligators fed SeMet than in controls. Post-treatment head length (HL), used to control for size variation, was negatively related to both kidney (p = 0.0142) and liver (p = 0.0010) Se concentrations. Dietary Treatment with SeMet significantly reduced body condition (1000 ppm, p < 0.0029; 2000 ppm, p = 0.0075), but it significantly increased growth (1000 ppm, p < 0.0001; 2000 ppm, p = 0.0316). Body condition and growth remained unchanged in control alligators (p > 0.05). Our results demonstrate alligators are capable of accumulating high levels of Se through trophic transfer. Here, the positive effects of accumulation on growth may demonstrate Se essentiality, while the negative effects on condition may demonstrate toxicity. Accumulation was also associated with mortality, further demonstrating toxicity. Future studies should further investigate the physiological effects of Se accumulation in long-lived, top-trophic carnivores.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Ecology Lab. (SREL)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FC09-07SR22506

OSTI ID:: 1821184

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1533275

Journal Information:: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 72; ISSN 0090-4341

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Dietary Selenomethionine Administration in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): Hepatic and Renal Se Accumulation and Its Effects on Growth and Body Condition

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