Effect of iron and selenium status on glutathione peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation in rats

The combined effects of iron and selenium status on glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity, cytochrome P-450 activity, and lipid peroxidation in the liver and intestinal mucosa of rats were investigated. In experiment one, four experimental groups (+Se+Fe, -Se+Fe, +Se++Fe, -Se++Fe) were manipulated for 3 weeks with intramuscular administration of irondextran (++Fe) and/or normal diet (+Fe) and deionized water (-Se) and/or selenium-supplemented deionized water (+Se). In experiment two, 2% dietary carbonyl iron (instead of the parenteral administration) was fed for 3 weeks to rats. Body weight of rats was significantly decreased in both parenterally and orally iron-overloaded groups (p<0.01), regardless of Se supplement. Serum iron was significantly increased in parenterally iron-overloaded groups but it was marginally increased in orally iron-overloaded groups. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin content among experimental groups in either experiment one or two. Total iron in the small intestine, intestinal mucosa, and livers was significantly high in both parenterally and orally iron-overloaded rats, regardless of selenium status. In the liver and intestine, GSHPx activity was significantly higher in all selenium-supplemented groups, compared to Se-deficient groups (p<0.01) and lipid peroxidation was significantly enhanced in both parenterally and orally iron-overloaded groups, compared to iron-adequate groups. There was no significant difference in cytochrome P-450 activity in the livers between groups in both experiment one and two. These results indicated that GSHPx activity in liver and intestinal mucosa was depended on selenium status, regardless of iron status, and iron-overload enhances lipid peroxidation in liver and intestinal mucosa by increasing the tissue iron content.