Effects of Dietary Selenium and Vitamin E on Covalent Binding of Aflatoxin to Chick Liver Cell Macromolecules

Abstract

Day-old single comb white Leghorn chicks of both sexes maternally depleted in selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VE) were fed a low Se and VE-free semipurified basal diet or that diet supplemented with graded levels of Se (0.2–20.0 ppm as Na₂SeO₃) or VE (100 IU/g as all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate), or both. At 14 days of age, chicks were given 1 mg/kg [³H] aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) i.p. and killed either 2 or 24 hours later. Covalent binding of AFB₁ to liver DNA and RNA in chicks fed the basal diet was significantly greater than in chicks supplemented with Se or VE, or both. Phenobarbital treatment prior to administration of AFB₁ decreased adduct formation in most groups, and abolished differences in adduct formation due to diet. These results suggest that combined Se-VE deficiency enhances activation or inhibits detoxification of AFB₁ in vivo.