Effects of singular and combined dietary deficiencies of selenium and vitamin E on fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

Selenium and vitamin E interrelationships in the nutrition of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were investigated in a 26-wk experiment. A purified basal diet alone or supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg selenium, 50 mg/kg vitamin E or both was fed to fingerling channel catfish in aquaria. Combined deficiencies of selenium and vitamin E caused suppressed growth, anemia, severe myopathy, exudative diathesis and death. Singular deficiencies of either selenium or vitamin E did not produce any of these deficiency signs. Catfish fed selenium-deficient diets with or without supplemental vitamin E had reduced glutathione peroxidase activity and elevated glutathione transferase activity in liver. Vitamin E deficiency in catfish caused elevated ascorbic acid-stimulated lipid peroxidation of hepatic microsomes, which was unaffected by selenium supplementation. The results indicate that there is a significant interaction between selenium and vitamin E in the nutrition of the channel catfish.