Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interactive effects of selenium, methionine, and dietary protein on survival, growth, and physiology in mallard ducklings

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Concentrations of over 100 ppm (100 mg/kg) selenium (Se) have been found in aquatic food chains associated with irrigation drainwater. Both quantity and composition of dietary protein for wild ducklings may vary in selenium-contaminated environments. Day-old mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducklings received one of the following diets containing 22% protein: unsupplemented (controls), 15 ppm Se (as selenomethionine), 60 ppm Se, methionine supplemented, 15 ppm Se with methionine supplement, or 60 ppm Se with methionine supplement. In a second concurrent experiment the above sequence was repeated with a protein-restricted (11%) but isocaloric diet. In a third concurrent experiment all ducklings received 44% protein with 0, 15, or 60 ppm Se added. After 4 weeks, blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological examination. With 22% protein and 60 ppm Se in the diet, duckling survival and growth was reduced and histopathological lesions of the liver occurred. Antagonistic interactive effects occurred between supplementary methionine and Se, including complete to partial alleviation of the following Se effects by methionine: mortality, hepatic lesions, and altered glutathione and thiol status. With 11% protein, growth of controls was less than that with 22% protein, Se (60 ppm) caused 100% mortality, and methionine supplementation, although protective afforded less protection than it did with 22% protein. With 44% protein, ducklings experienced physiological stress, and Se was more toxic than with methionine-supplemented 22% protein. These findings suggest the potential for antagonistic effects of Se, methionine, and protein on duckling survival and physiology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anundi I, Stahl A, Hogberg J (1984) Effects of selenite on O2 consumption, glutathione oxidation and NADPH levels in isolated hepatocytes and the role of redox changes in selenite toxicity. Chem Biol Interact 50:277–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Aust SD (1985) Lipid peroxidation. In: R.A. Greenwald (ed) Handbook of methods for oxygen radical research, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 203–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler JA, Beilstein MA, Whanger PD (1989) Influence of dietary methionine on the metabolism of selenomethionine in rats. J Nutr 119:1001–1009

    Google Scholar 

  • Combs GF, Jr, Combs SB (1986) The role of selenium in nutrition. Academic Press, Orlando, FL

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean WF, Combs GF, Jr (1981) Influence of dietary selenium on performance, tissue selenium content, and plasma concentrations of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, vitamin E, and ascorbic acid in ducklings. Poultry Sci 60:2655–2663

    Google Scholar 

  • Dooley JF, Turnquist LJ, Racich L (1979) Kinetic determination of serum sorbitol dehydrogenase activity with a centrifugal analyzer. Clin Chem 25:2026–2029

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisler R (1985) Selenium hazards to fish, wildlife, and invertebrates: a synoptic review. U.S. Fish Wildl Serv Biol Rep 85(1.5). 57 pp

  • El-Begearmi MM, Combs JF Jr (1982) Dietary effects of selenite toxicity in the chick. Poultry Sci 61:770–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Euliss NH (1989) Assessment of drainwater evaporation ponds as waterfowl habitat in the San Joaquin Valley, California. PhD Thesis, Oregon State Univ, Corvallis, OR

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleming WJ, Heinz GH, Franson JC, Rattner BA (1985) Toxicity of Abate 4E (Temephos) in mallard ducklings and the influence of cold. Environ Toxicol Chem 4:193–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganther HE (1986) Pathways of selenium metabolism including respiratory excretory products. J Am Coll Toxicol 5:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Gortner RA, Jr (1940) Chronic selenium poisoning in rats as influenced by dietary protein. J Nutr 19:105–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffith OW (1980) Determination of glutathione and glutathione disulfide using glutathione reductase and 2-vinyl pyridine. Anal Biochem 106:207–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinz GH, Hoffman DJ, Gold LG (1988) Toxicity of organic and inorganic selenium to mallard ducklings. Environ Toxicol Chem 17:561–568

    Google Scholar 

  • —, —, — (1989) Impaired reproduction of mallards fed an organic form of selenium. J Wildl Manage 53:418–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinz GH, Hoffman DJ, Krynitsky AJ, Weller DMG (1987) Reproduction in mallards fed selenium. Environ Toxicol Chem 6:423–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinz GH, Sanderson CJ (1990) Avoidance of selenium treated food by mallards. Environ Toxicol Chem 9:1155–1158

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill CH (1979) The effect of dietary protein levels on mineral toxicity in chicks. J Nutri 109:501–507

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ (1988) Effects of krenite brush control agent (fosamine ammonium) on embryonic development in mallards and bobwhite. Environ Toxicol Chem 7:69–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ, Eastin WC, Jr, Gay ML (1982) Embryotoxic and biochemical effects of waste crankcase oil on birds eggs. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 63:230–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ, Franson JC, Pattee OH, Bunck CM, Murray HC (1985) Biochemical and hematological effects of lead ingestion in nestling American kestrels. Comp Biochem Physiol 80C(2) 431–439

    Google Scholar 

  • —, —, —, —, — (1987) Toxicity of paraquat in nestling birds: Effects on plasma and tissue biochemistry in American kestrels. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 16:177–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ, Heinz GH (1988) Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of selenium in the diet of mallards. J Toxicol Environ Health 24:477–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ, Heinz GH, LeCaptain LJ, Bunck CM, Green DE (1991a) Subchronic hepatoxicity of selenomethionine in mallard ducks. J Toxicol Environ Health 32:449–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ, Sanderson CJ, LeCaptain LJ, Cromartie E, Pendleton GS (1991b) Interactive effects of arsenic, selenium, and dietary protein on survival, growth, and physiology in mallard ducklings. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 20:288–294

    Google Scholar 

  • —, —, —, —, — (1991c) Interactive effects of boron, selenium and dietary protein on survival, growth, and physiology in mallard ducklings. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 20:49–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ, Heinz GH, Krynitsky AJ (1989) Hepatic glutathione metabolism and lipid peroxidation in response to excess dietary selenomethionine and selenite in mallard ducklings. J Toxicol Environ Health 27:263–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman DJ, Ohlendorf HM, Aldrich TW (1988) Selenium teratogenesis in natural populations of aquatic birds in central California. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 17:519–525

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaskot RH, Charlet EG, Grose EC, Grady MA, Roycroft JH (1983) An automated analysis of glutathione peroxidase, S-transferase, and reductase activity in animal tissue. J Anal Toxicol 7:86–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Krynitsky AJ (1987) Preparation of biological tissue for determination of arsenic and selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Anal Chem 59:1884–1886

    Google Scholar 

  • LeBoeuf RA, Hoekstra WG (1983) Adaptive changes in hepatic glutathione in response to excess selenium in rats. J Nutr 113:845–854

    Google Scholar 

  • Levander OA (1977) Metabolic interrelationships between arsenic and selenium. Environ Health Persp 19:159–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Levander OA (1986) The need for measures of selenium status. J Am Coll Toxicol 5:37–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Levander OA, Morris VG (1970) Interactions of methionine, vitamin E, and antioxidants on selenium toxicity in the rat. J Nutr 100:1111–1118

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry KR, Baker DH (1989) Amelioration of selenium toxicity by arsenicals and cysteine. J Anim Sci 67:959–965

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurements with folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milliken GA, Johnson DE (1984) Analysis of messy data, Vol. 1: designed experiments. Van Norstrand Reinhold, New York, 473 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohlendorf HM (1989) Bioaccumulation and effects of selenium in wildlife. Selenium in agriculture and the environment, SSSA Special Publication No. 23. Soil Sciences Society of America, Madison, WI

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohlendorf HM, Hoffman DJ, Saiki MK, Aldrich TW (1986) Embryonic mortality and abnormalities of aquatic birds: apparent impacts of selenium from irrigation drainwater. Sci Total Environ 52:49–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohlendorf HM, Kilness AW, Simmons JL, Stroud RK, Hoffman DJ, Moore JF (1988) Selenium toxicosis in wild aquatic birds. J Toxicol Environ Health 24:67–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohlendorf HM, Skorupa JP (1989) Selenium in relation to wildlife and agricultural drainage water. In: Fourth International Symposium on Uses of Selenium and Tellurium. Selenium-Tellurium Development Association, Darien, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poley WE, Moxon AL (1938) Tolerance levels of seleniferous grains in laying rations. Poult Sci 17:72–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Rattner BA, Haramis GM, Chu DS, Bunck CM, Scanes CG (1987) Growth and physiological condition of black ducks reared on acidified wetlands. Can J Zool 65:2953–2958

    Google Scholar 

  • Sedlak J, Lindsay RH (1968) Estimate of total, protein-bound, and nonprotein sulfhydryl groups in tissue with Ellmans's reagent. Anal Biochem 25:192–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuler CA (1987) Impacts of agricultural drainwater and contaminants on wetlands at Kesterson Reservoir, California, MS Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith GJ, Anders VP (1989) Toxic effects of boron on mallard reproduction. Environ Toxicol Chem 8:943–950

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturkie PD (1986) Avian physiology, Springer-Verlag, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietze F (1969) Enzymic method for quantitative determination of nanogram amounts of total and oxidized glutathione. Anal Biochem 27:502–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Whanger PD (1986) Some comparative aspects of selenite and selenomethionine metabolism. J Am Coll Toxicol 5:101–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitworth MR, Pendleton GW, Hoffman DJ, Camardese MB (1990) Effects of dietary boron and arsenic on the behavior of mallard ducklings. Environ Toxicol Chem 10:911–916

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 20708, Laurel, Maryland, USA

    David J. Hoffman, Caroline J. Sanderson, Leonard J. LeCaptain, Eugene Cromartie & Grey W. Pendleton

Authors
  1. David J. Hoffman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caroline J. Sanderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leonard J. LeCaptain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eugene Cromartie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Grey W. Pendleton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoffman, D.J., Sanderson, C.J., LeCaptain, L.J. et al. Interactive effects of selenium, methionine, and dietary protein on survival, growth, and physiology in mallard ducklings. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 23, 163–171 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212270

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212270

Keywords

Search

Navigation