Changes in GSHPx and muscle enzyme activities in lambs with nutritional myodegeneration following a single treatment with sodium selenite

The effect of an s.c. dose of sodium selenite and alpha-tocopherol for the treatment and prophylaxis of nutritional myodystrophy (NMD) was studied. Twelve affected lambs were treated with 0.160 mg Se kg(-1) subcutaneously, and another 30 lambs were prophylactically injected with 0.080 mg Se kg(-1) subcutaneously. Blood samples were taken before treatment started (Day 1), and also at Days 12, 19 and 48. Ten lambs were left untreated as controls. The treatment was evaluated by measuring blood GSHPx and serum LDH, CK and AST activities. The administered Se protected all lambs from NMD. The GSHPx peak activity was registered at Day 19. GSHPx levels had decreased at the end of the experiment, but they were never below initial levels. Normal muscle enzyme activity indicated the degree of protection against the disease. It can be concluded that the dose used was adequate in the therapy and prophylaxis of NMD.