Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of selenium in the diet of mallards. [Anas platyrhynchos]

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (USA)

OSTI ID:5182968

Hoffman, D J; Heinz, G H

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were fed a control diet, diets containing 1, 5, 10, or 25 ppm Se as sodium selenite, or a diet containing 10 ppm Se as seleno-DL-methionine in the first of two experiments. Selenium at 10 ppm as selenomethionine or 25 ppm as sodium selenite caused a 40-44% decrease in the total number of eggs that hatched compared to controls. Selenium at 25 ppm (sodium selenite) resulted in decreases in mean embryonic weight and crown-rump length. Ten parts per million Se as selenomethionine was more teratogenic than sodium selenite at 25 ppm. Selenomethionine (10 ppm Se) resulted in an incidence of 13.1% malformations that were often multiple, whereas sodium selenite (10 and 25 ppm Se) resulted in 3.6 and 4.2% malformations. The teratogenicity of selenomethionine was confirmed in a second experiment in which mallards received 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 ppm Se as selenomethionine, resulting in 0.9, 0.5, 1.4, 6.8, and 67.9% malformations, respectively. Both forms of selenium increased the incidence of edema and stunted embryonic growth. Selenomethionine (10 ppm Se) resulted in a significant increase in plasma glutathione peroxidase activity and sorbital dehydrogenase activity (indicative of hepatotoxicity) in hatchlings. Sodium selenite (25 ppm Se) resulted in fourfold elevation in plasma uric acid concentration, indicative of renal alteration. Selenomethionine accumulated much better in eggs than did sodium selenite.

• OSTI ID: 5182968
• Journal Information: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (USA) Vol. 24:4; ISSN JTEHD; ISSN 0098-4108
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIRDS
BODY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
DIET
DUCKS
EGGS
ELEMENTS
EMBRYOS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FOWL
INGESTION
INTAKE
KIDNEYS
MALFORMATIONS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PEROXIDASES
SELENIUM
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
TERATOGENESIS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES