Metabolic studies of [⁷⁵Se]selenomethionine and [⁷⁵Se]selenite in the rat

Abstract

1. Information was sought concerning the long-term fate of orally and intravenously administered [ 75 Se]selenomethionine and [ 75 Se]selenite in rats. 2. Urinary and faecal radioactivity was assayed during the 1st week and whole-body radio-activity was determined weekly for 16 weeks. Rats were killed at intervals for analysis of 75 Se tissue distribution. 3. Intestinal absorption after oral administration was estimated to be 91–93% for selenite and 95–97% for selenomethionine. 4. Urinary excretion of absorbed [ 75 Se]selenite was greater than that of [ 75 Se]selenomethionine during the 1st week. 5. After the 1st week, whole-body retention diminished exponentially at a similar rate in rats given either selenomethionine or selenite. Except for the erythrocytes, 75 Se content of individual tissues also decreased exponentially. 6. It appears that, after an initial period, 75 Se from either selenomethionine or selenite is metabolized similarly, suggesting that Se from both potential dietary sources is ultimately incorporated into the same metabolic pool.