Evaluation of oxidative damage in the liver of selenium-deficient rats.

Previous studies have implied a relationship between Se-deficiency and oxidative stress. In the present study, the occurrence of oxidative stress due to Se-deficiency was investigated by evaluating the age dependence of growth and indices of oxidative damage for the liver of Se-deficient (SeD) rats. The ratios of liver weight to body weight of the SeD rats were greater than those of the normal rats. The values of AST and ALT (clinical indices of liver damage) were higher in the SeD rats than the normal ones especially in the young (6-12 weeks of age). The TBARS level of the 4-week-old SeD group were higher than the normal group while the level decreased with age. Conversely, the TBARS level of the normal group gradually increased and became higher than SeD group in older rats (12-20 weeks of age). Vitamin E rather than vitamin C may be consumed during oxidative stress due to Se-deficiency. Damage induced by Se-deficiency may be related to growth and the mechanisms of this damage may alter with age.