The effect of barium selenate injection on selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood of pregnant ewes fed selenium-deficient diet.

Selenium (Se) levels in whole blood and plasma, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in red cells and plasma were measured in ewes fed an Se-deficient diet injected with barium selenate before breeding season. Highly significant increases in Se levels and GSH-Px activities (P less than 0.001) were observed throughout the gestation period and during lactation. In the control group, Se levels and GSH-Px activities decreased significantly (P less than 0.001), and were at critically low levels during lambing and lactation periods.