The effect of long-term enrichment of diet with selenium, vitamin E and B15 on the activity of certain enzymes in rat brain

The aim of this study was tracing of changes in the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione transferase (GSH S-Tr), aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) and alanine aminotransferase (A1AT) in the brain as a result of diet enrichment with antioxidants: selenium (Se), vitamin E and vitamin B15 (pangamic acid). The experiment was carried out on Wistar rats with initial body weight 150 g. Following prolonged enrichment of diet with Se (0.1 ppm of sodium selenite), vitamin E (6 mg/100 g of diet) and vitamin B15 (2.5 mg/100 g of diet) the following results were obtained. The activity of GSHPx in brain microsomes was not changed after one year of vitamin E administration when it was measured against hydrogen hydroxide and against cumene hydrochloride; vitamin E administration increased the activity of GSH S-Tr in the cytoplasmic fraction of brain cells. Diet enrichment with selenium increased after 12 and 18 months the activity of GSHPx measured against both substrates, and GSH S-Tr activity increased considerably. Presence of vitamin B15 in diet reduced GSHPx activity after one-year or longer administration, after 18 months the activity of GSH S-Tr was reduced also. No changes were noted in the activity of AspAT and A1AT.