Barium selenate as a slow-release selenium preparation to pigs

• Published in: Acta veterinaria scandinavica 1986-01, Vol.27 (3), p.388-396
• Main Authors: Brun, E, Overnes, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Barium - administration & dosage; Barium Compounds; Delayed-Action Preparations; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase - blood; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal - metabolism; Selenic Acid; Selenium - administration & dosage; Selenium - blood; Selenium Compounds; Swine - metabolism
• ISSN: 0044-605X; 1751-0147; 1751-0147
• DOI: 10.1186/BF03548153

Pregnant sows were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) with a barium selenate suspension (0.5–1.0 mg Se/kg body weight (b.w.)) and together with control animals fed a commercial diet. No response to the injection was seen either in blood selenium levels or in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the sows. There was, however, a significant difference in these parameters between piglets born from treated dams and control animals. This status was maintained during the nursing period. In another experiment pigs (20 kg b.w.) on a Se-deficient diet were injected s.c. and i.m. with barium selenate (2.5 mg Se/kg b.w.). The treated groups maintained their blood levels of selenium and GSH-Px activity, although the selenium values in the group treated intramuscularly started to decline after 4 weeks. Organ samples from both groups were equal with regard to selenium at the time of slaughter while the control group showed a rapid decline both in blood selenium levels and GHS-Px activity.