Serum and tissue residues following selenium injections in sheep.

Abstract

Observations were made on serum selenium levels and tissue residues following the subeutaneous injection of radioactive sodium selenite at the rate of 5 mg per 100 lb of body weight and radioactive barium selenate at the rate of 20 and 50 mg per 100 lb of body weight. Injections were made in the shoulder and in the ear. The sodium salt was found to be absorbed and eliminated more rapidly than the barium selenate. Measurable selenium tissue residues, recorded 146 days after injections, corresponded with serum levels. The highest selenium residues were found in kidneys, with relatively decreasing amounts seen in spleen, lungs, brain, heart, and wool. Fat and bone had the lowest accumulations of selenium. With barium selenate, the site of injection influenced serum and tissue levels. Injections in the ear were absorbed less efficiently than injections in the shoulder. Toxicity experiments were conducted with barium selenate and sodium selenite. Sodium selenite was found to be lethal at 80 mg per 100 lb of body weight, and it was found to produce toxic reactions at 40 mg per 100 lb of body weight. Barium selenate, at the rate of 1,080 mg per 100 lb of body weight, was nontoxicmore » other than causing a local reaction at the site of injection. (auth)« less