The present study was designed to determine if prenatal and postnatal Se nutriture affects Se concentration, glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx) activity and phospholipid distribution of the neonatal rat lung. Female SD rats were bred and fed a semipurified Se-deficient(0.04ppm, Se-) or a Se-adequate(0.5ppm, Se+) diet through pregnancy and lactation. On d 2 of lactation, maternal dietary Se had no significant effect on pulmonary Se concentration of pups. On d 16 of lactation, mean milk Se concentration in Se- dams was significantly lower than that in Se+ dams. Milk Se concentration was reflected on lung Se concentration and GSHPx activity of d 16 pups, which were dramatically decreased in Se- pups. In addition, pulmonary disaturated phosphatidyl choline/total phosphatidyl choline ratio was also significantly decreased in Se- pups, implying impaired function of pulmonary surfactant. These data indicate that adequate Se nutrition is important in the maturation of neonatal rat lungs.