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Objective: To clarify the season in which GSH-PX, the index of
blood selenium status, is in its critical condition. In addition specific pathological changes due to selenium deficiency in skeletal muscle
and the heart was investigated.
Animals: In this study, blood sampling were taken of 2400 cilinicaly
normal sheep and 27 lambs suspected for seleniom deficiency. 10 selenium deficinet lambs were also autopsysed for pathological changes.
Procedure: GSH-PX was measured in 2400 blood samples taken
of normal sheep in 3 towns in west Azarbaidjan. Blood samples
were also collected from 27 lambs suspected for selenium deficiency. Ten lambs with clinical signs of selenium deficiency were necropsied and gross and microscopic changes in the hearts and skeletal muscles were studied.
Statistical analysis: Season’s variations were analysed by student
“t” test.
Results: This investigation showed that blood GSH-PX in sheep in the all understudied areas, was significaly lower in winter than summer. The lambs with clinical signs of selenium deficiency had marginal blood GSH-PX and showed extensive degenrative changes
in the hearts and skeletal muscles.
Conclusion: The results showed that in winter, blood GSH-PX of
sheep in west Azarbaidjan declined to the critical level and in some
places like Urmia lead to developing of the clinical form. I. Fac.
VeL Med. Univ. Tehran. 59, 3: 253-257, 2004.