Objective  To observe the influence of different selenium (Se) levels in fodder on reproductive function in male Wistar rats.

  Methods  Totally 36 four-week male weanling Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups according to their body weight. After one week adaptive breeding, the rats of the three groups were fed with the fodder containing sufficient, low, and deficient Se content (S-, L-, and D-Se) for 9 weeks. The weight gains of the rats were recorded weekly. By the end of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and their cauda epididymidis specimens were sampled immediately for detections of sperm density, motility and malformation. Se content in blood, liver and testis samples of the rats were detected and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) in testis samples were determined.

  Results  For the rats of S-, L-, and D-Se group, the weight gain were 207.88, 204.05, and 198.24 grams; the blood Se concentration were 421.57, 365.35, and 126.05 ng/g; and the Se concentration of liver tissues were 57.93, 40.52, and 8.79 ng/g. There were significant differences in Se concentration of blood and liver tissues but there were no significant differences in Se concentration of testis tissue and sperm density among the rats of the three groups. The sperm motility ratio was 63.07%, 53.91%, and 54.15% for the rats of S-, L-, and D-Se group, with a significant difference. Sperm malformations were observed in the rats of L- and D-Se group but not in the rats of S-Se group. Significantly decreased GPx4 activity was detected in the rats of D-Se group compared to that in the rats of S- and L-Se group (5.09 vs. 6.86 and 6.54 pmol/ml).

  Conclusion  Dietary selenium intake could influence GPx4 activity in testis tissues, which could further impact sperm activity and may induce sperm malformation in rats.