The Influence of a »Flushing Dose« of Selenium on the Excretion of Selenium in Sheep

The influence of injected selenium on the excretion of radioactive selenium stored in the body was studied in 4 male sheep. At the beginning of the experiment, radioactive selenium as Se⁷⁵-sodium selenite and Se⁷⁵-L-selenomethionine was injected subcutaneously, each compound in 2 rams. The injection of Se⁷⁵-sodium selenite was repeated in one ram after 37 days. Non-radioactive selenium as sodium selenite or DL-selenomethionine was injected between 5 and 47 days after the injection of the Se⁷⁵-dose. Each injection of non-radioactive sodium selenite increased the urinary Se⁷⁵-excretion on an average 10 times. A close correlation was demonstrated between the concentration of Se⁷⁵ and total selenium in urine.After the subcutaneous injection of Se⁷⁵-L-selenomethionine the Se⁷⁵-excretion in urine was increased both with a “flushing dose” of sodium selenite and with DL-selenomethionine. The concentration of Se⁷⁵ and that of total selenium in urine of these animals were closely correlated.Se⁷⁵-excretion in feces was not markedly influenced by the administration of non-radioactive selenium.