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. 2004 Feb 15;378(Pt 1):21–26. doi: 10.1042/BJ20031795

Efficient selenium transfer from mother to offspring in selenoprotein-P-deficient mice enables dose-dependent rescue of phenotypes associated with selenium deficiency.

Ulrich Schweizer 1, Marten Michaelis 1, Josef Köhrle 1, Lutz Schomburg 1
PMCID: PMC1223946  PMID: 14664694

Abstract

Mice deficient in selenoprotein P exhibit a disturbed selenium distribution and reduced activities of other selenoenzymes and display defects in growth and motor co-ordination. We have normalized selenoenzyme activities and rescued the phenotype of mutant mice by supplementing their nursing mothers with sodium selenite. Our results indicate that selenium from inorganic sources can be transferred efficiently via mother's milk to the developing offspring in a form that is both highly bioavailable by target tissues and yet sufficiently safe to prevent overdosages.

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Selected References

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