The aim of this study was to determine liver and kidney concentrations of selenium in wild boars from the northwest part of Poland, depending on season of the year, age, sex, and body weight. Altogether, samples of livers and kidneys from 172 wild boars that were shot in 2005-2008 were investigated. Liver and kidney concentrations of selenium were determined using spectrofluorometric method. In all the animals studied, selenium concentration was several times lower in the liver than in the kidneys. Selenium concentration averaged 0.19 μg/g wet weight (w.w.) in the liver and 1.20 μg/g w.w. in kidneys. The present study showed that season (P≤0.05), age (P≤0.01), and body weight (P≤ 0.01) have a significant effect on selenium concentration in the liver of wild boars. Liver selenium concentration was the highest in spring (0.23 μg/g w.w.) and the lowest in autumn (0.16 μg/g w.w). Young animals (up to 1 year of age) and those with the lowest body weight (up to 20 kg) were characterized by a slightly lower selenium concentration in the liver compared to older and heavier animals. No significant differences were found in organ selenium concentration between males and females. According to biochemical criteria for the diagnosis of selenium deficiency in pig liver, which were used to evaluate selenium concentration in the liver of wild boars, no individuals were found to have optimal levels. Considering that in Se deficiency higher selenium concentrations are found in kidneys than in the liver, it can be presumed that the wild boars had Se deficiency. However, this is difficult to state conclusively because there are no reference values for this species.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the concentration of selenium and selected heavy metals and their possible relationship in serum of 25 healthy lactating cows (Montbéliarde) reared in a non-polluted area, in the western part of Poland. Cadmium, lead, copper, and zinc concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and Se concentration was determined fluorimetrically. The content of Se, Zn, and Cu was 0.083 ± 0.026, 0.629 ± 0.413, and 0.152 ± 0.042 μg/mL, respectively. The presence of the Cd and Pb was found in all serum samples. The mean concentration of these metals was 0.0009 ± 0.0008 and 0.018 ± 0.016 μg/mL, respectively. Analysis of correlations between Se and toxic metals showed a negative and significant (P < 0.05) relationship between selenium concentration and lead and cadmium concentration in the serum of the animals studied, with correlation coefficients of r = -0.595 and r = -0.618, respectively. For copper and zinc, this relationship was also negative but not significant (r = -0.255 and r = -0.203). Our study demonstrated that the level of toxic metals decreased as serum selenium concentration increased. It seems necessary to conduct further research on the interactions between these elements in blood, serum, and target organs concomitantly with the determination of their intake.

The purpose of this study was to determine glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity in the liver of red deer in relation to selenium concentrations in the liver, as well as to evaluate changes in GSHPx activity according to sex, body weight and season of the year. Total selenium concentration in the liver of red deer averaged 0.095 ± 0.018 μg/g of wet weight. GSHPx activity in the liver of red deer ranged widely from 4.4 to 45.8 U/g of protein. Females were characterized by higher GSHPx activity compared to males (21.2 vs. 17.0 U/g protein). The highest GSHPx activity was recorded in autumn and the lowest in summer. The lowest GSHPx activity in the liver was found in the heaviest animals (>100 kg body weight), averaging 14.0 U/g protein. Animals weighing <66 kg and 66-100 kg were characterized by similar activity of 25.1 and 24.5 U/g, respectively. Despite the differences in GSHPx activity according to sex, body weight and season of the year, these factors had no significant effect on the activity of this enzyme. The main factor regulating GSHPx activity in the liver of examined red deer was selenium concentration.

The objective of the study was to determine selenium status and its distribution in the organs of free living foxes from selenium deficient areas of north-western Poland. Samples of organs harvested from 40 foxes shot during the 2008-2009 hunting seasons served as experimental material. Selenium concentration in the organs was determined spectrofluorometrically. Selenium distribution in tissues depends largely on its dietary content. Our study indicated that concentrations of selenium in the examined organs followed the order: kidney>liver>spleen>lung>heart and kidneys were the organ with the highest retention of this element. Mean selenium concentration in fox kidneys was 0.60 ± 0.15 μg/g wet weight. Several times less selenium on average was found in the liver (0.27 ± 0.09 μg/g w.w.), lungs (0.17 ± 0.06 μg/g w.w.), spleen (0.19 ± 0.06 μg/g w.w.) and heart (0.13 ± 0.05 μg/g w.w.). All the animals studied were deficient in selenium.

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