Effect of selenium repletion on glutathione peroxidase protein level in rat liver.

We have previously reported that liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.11.1.9) protein level and activity decrease exponentially during Se deficiency. To determine the effect of Se repletion on these parameters, Se-deficient rats were repleted with 0.1 or 0.5 mg Se/kg diet as Na2SeO3 in a 30% torula yeast-based diet and were killed 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 or 14 d later. GSH-Px protein was quantitated using anti-GSH-Px antibodies. Dietary repletion with 0.5 mg Se/kg diet increased GSH-Px protein and activity significantly (P less than 0.05) after 1 d. After 5 d for GSH-Px protein and 7 d for activity the rate of increase slowed, and at d 14 neither GSH-Px protein nor activity was significantly different from that of Se-adequate rats. Repletion with 0.1 mg Se/kg diet did not significantly increase GSH-Px protein or activity until 14 d. To examine the short-term effect of Se repletion, Se-deficient rats were injected intravenously with 15 or 60 micrograms Se as Na2SeO3 and killed 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 h later. Only rats injected with 60 micrograms Se and killed 24 h later had a significant increase in GSH-Px activity along with a marginally significant increase in GSH-Px protein. These response curves indicate that homeostatic processes control the level of GSH-Px. The lack of an increase in GSH-Px until 24 h after Se administration implies that additional metabolic events after a rise in cellular Se may be necessary prior to an increase in GSH-Px synthesis in Se-deficient rats.