skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Fluctuations in selenium status during the female rat estrous cycle

Conference · · FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States)
OSTI ID:5264381
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City (United States) Ohio State Univ., Columbus (United States)

A suggested relationship between selenium (Se) status and sex hormones is based on sex-linked differences in Se status of the liver and dramatic changes in Se status during pregnancy. The effect of estrous cycle hormone fluctuation on Se status was studied in the chronically-catheterized rat model. Se status, measured as plasma and RBC Se and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), was assessed at each stage of the 4-day estrous cycle. Stages, determined by cytological exam of vaginal smears, were estrus (E), metestrus (ME), diestrus (DE), and proestrus (PE). Five rats fed a 0.1 ppm Se diet, were catheterized at the abdominal aorta, allowing serial blood draws under nonstressful conditions. At least three blood samples per rat were collected daily for two consecutive cycles. Plasma Se during PE was significantly greater than that at E, ME, or DE. Peak plasma Se occurred at 1,000 hr PE. Peak estrogen and progesterone levels have been reported to occur later in PE. Peak plasma occurred during ME and early PE. A significant decrease in plasma GPx during late PE corresponds with reported peaks in estrogen and progesterone. There were no significant differences in RBC Se or GPx during the estrous cycle. The results of this study suggest that changes in plasma Se and GPx during the estrous cycle may precede similar fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone.

OSTI ID:
5264381
Report Number(s):
CONF-9104107-; CODEN: FAJOE
Journal Information:
FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States), Vol. 5:4; Conference: 75. annual meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Atlanta, GA (United States), 21-25 Apr 1991; ISSN 0892-6638
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English