ALTERATIONS OF NEUTROPHIL FUNCTION IN SELENIUM-DEFICIENT CATTLE

Neutrophils isolated from the blood of selenium-deficient and selenium-adequate Friesian steers were shown to have similar abilities to phagocytoze cells of C. albicans. However, the neutrophils from the selenium-deficient steers were less able to kill ingested C. albicans. In histochemical tests of function, i.e. nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (unstimulated and stimulated) and peroxidase activity, the selenium-deficient neutrophils had lower activities than the selenium-adequate group. There was no detectable glutathione peroxidase activity in the selenium-deficient neutrophils whereas activity was detected in the selenium-adequate group. © 1979.