STUDIES ON VITAMIN-E AND SELENIUM DEFICIENCY IN YOUNG PIGS .1. HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES

Abstract

Pigs which were deficient in vitamin E and/or Se had the following parameters determined weekly from 6-13 wk of age: packed cell volume, Hb concentration, red cell and white cell counts, red cell indices, reticulocyte count, serum Fe, serum total Fe binding capacity, myeloid:erythroid ratio, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and creatine phosphokinase activities, and body weight. Except for the myeloid:erythroid ratio and serum creatine phosphokinase activity, these parameters were not found to be significantly affected by either vitamin E deficiency, Se deficiency or deficiency of both. The myeloid:erythroid ratio was increased (P < 0.01) in association with Se deficiency, which tends to indicate decreased erythropoiesis but was not reflected in the peripheral red cell picture. Evidence of dyserythropoiesis was not found to be a significant feature in serial bone marrow aspiration biopsies of vitamin E and/or Se deficient pigs. Even if the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activities were not found to be significantly affected by either vitamin E deficiency, Se deficiency or deficiency in both as compared to replete animals, a few animals, especially in the group deficient in both vitamin E and Se, presented quite marked transient increases of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity which was interpreted to reflect the occurrence of acute episodes of hepatosis dietetica. Serum creatine phosphokinase activities were found to be increased in association with vitamin E deficiency (P < 0.01), Se deficiency (P < 0.05) and the interaction was also significant (P < 0.01). The serum creatine phosphokinase activity increases possibly reflect the occurrence of subclinical muscular dystrophy. Vitamin E and Se deficiencies have marked additive effects in the induction of skeletal muscular dystrophy.